"waves"

poetry bridges the inner and outer spaces

through the love bestowed unto me

from my dearly beloved; this moment

we share now inflects, infuses, and

transforms wine into water. So i,

let go into your waves and become

submerged into the deep blue

waters of life. at that moment,

i wonder, how on this earth

could have never loved you?

for no matter the abuses, traumas,

and injustices we face alone

and together I know deep within

the reservoirs of our hearts

you drop your peignoir

and I become the cleansing

ocean waves of healing

as we again choose loving.

Okay, poetry is one of my favorite SEL activities I conduct with my students. Through reading aloud poems (I'm in the camp that poems are meant to be read aloud), and writing them I have born witness to my middles schoolers owning their voice and narrative.

As such, I use poetry in my life and teaching as a gateway towards creating, accepting, and owning our multifaceted narratives. At a moment when we need love as a restorative action against the nihilistic lovelessness perpetuated within our spaces, I choose to open my heart presently towards becoming the leaping board for my wonderful poets.

The most beautiful gift, which is why I am excited by your publication, is share love uniquely as I experience it. This way we can connect, teach, and learn various mysteries of love to one another like whispers of the heart.