Sweet Potato Haircut

The wispy black locust tree leaves

are in constant motion as I watch

humbly from my window,

uninterested in merging myself 

with the world today.

I could compare myself to 

something electronic and 

in need of charge for 

capable functioning, though

I am really just an animal

with soft, warm skin and

a mind and body that tire

of trying to do right, live life

in accordance to society’s 

weighty gazes. I see spider

on my windowpane (made of sand)

and where there used to be

fear, disturbance, and upset in me

there is now tenderness,

sweet spider who sustains

on those other insects I have yet

to feel tenderness toward, 

I thank you. And I hope you

won’t hurt my aching plants.

Oh!

I see fat fox squirrel laid flat

on a woody arm, paused in a

patch of sun, small arms and 

small legs reaching, soaking

in the miraculous light 

of a lovely day.