Death does not care about your gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Death, like any virus, shapeshifts, mutates, and has superior intelligence. Yet, it throws a more powerful blow to those disenfranchised. The howls of grief from your loved ones sound the same. Death to many is a reprieve from…

Knowing one’s worth is not automatic. It is infused with love at a very young age. It is instilled throughout your childhood experiences. It becomes your normal. For some, it's a new normal and a lifetime of work towards self-worth. Knowing your worth should be an automatic right of passage into this realm but oftentimes it's not. Your worthiness is a gift, given by the divine essence instilled in each of us.

ALCHEMY OF SPIRIT To be heard. To be seen. It is born of stardust, pure alchemy. To be heard. To be seen. It travels and lives in carbon form. To be heard. To be seen. It chooses to dwell, speaking softly as a reminder and inspires. To be heard. To be seen. It makes its very presence known to a few and many and then it departs. To be heard. To be seen. It is pure alchemy in motion. Poem #26 of 28

FAMILY Some families we are born into. Some families we are invited into. Some families we create out of necessity. Some are our spiritual family. Some families are just the vehicle to get us here to realize our fullest potential. There is the collective “we” and web of light and shadow that makes us family. If one member struggles we all do. Poem #25 of 28

DISTANT TRAVELER Curious. Migrate. Immigrant. Seeking higher ground. Conquerer. Interloper. Colonizer. Seeking higher ground. Enslaved. Trafficked. Distant. Seeking higher ground. Traveler. Poem #24 of 28

Born near the banks of oppressive waters of the Mississippi River, yet full of optimism of the days yet to come. Where my blackness and roots will sew many great adventures, opportunities, and wealth. Born in a state that doesn’t see or value the people you love or that look…

TRANS LIVES MATTER 35. Yes, 35. Can you believe 35? Black and Trans, 35 is my life expectancy. The big 40, a milestone for many, often not for my sisters. I don’t get to watch those I love to age gracefully, peacefully. Hell, I don’t get to see myself get old or fully blossom into my wisdom. 35. Can I see 35 and beyond? 35. I matter. Sigh. Poem #22 of 28

CLEANSING River deities are sweet and full of reward. Ocean waves wash over my flesh and take away unwanted energies. Baptismal waters cleansing my old ways, granting me solace in the new. Waterfalls pelting me as my burdens are washed away. Cleansing, with the living waters of our Orishas, Yemanja, and Olokun. Poem #21 of 28

A GREETING We are not strangers in this realm, even though we act as such. A simple, Salut, Bonjour, Good morning, Buenas Dias, hola, Annyeong, Buongiorno, Ciao, Ni hao, Mherbe, and many other tongues that express greeting, takes very little effort. Often, I am amazed when you greet others and they feign deafness or simply ignore the gesture. I often think, how miserable can one be not to acknowledge another being, especially a child.