for breath this morning
and all while I dreamt
for the dreams I don’t remember
for use of all ten toes and both heels
for compliant muscles
for the goodness in the worry of my loved ones
for God’s patience with me on lessons I should have learned
for ancestors
for peeps whose church began at home first thing
with prayer lists I am on
for color
for Beloved, Biles
and Thunberg’s miles
and Arbery conviction files
for days the sun finds the skin on my face
for the sun
for my face
for unknowns I know -
the accident I did not get in when my gut took me another route
the accident I did not have when my stomach turned and flipped about
the mugger I did not meet walking to the subway
the injury I did not sustain from slipping at the bodega
the tow that did not happen to my rental (and should have)
the overdose I was never tempted to have
the career addictions I dodged
the tour that worked me in LA so that I could miss buildings falling in NY
for the career
for the beautiful people in it
for every artist whose art was close enough to bathe in
for family
that my mother lives (to ache my head)
that my dad the Miner mines the things I've said
for Aunt Travis remembering all eight decades
and giving us shards of love from each one
for Storys far and wide
for -
friends for fun, for shoulder, tea and kettle
and enemies - they evidence my mettle
for dancers twirling fibrous thighs around to share sacred rites
and children hurling joyous vibes into the air in tongues I cannot bite
because -
with COVID surge
and racist urge
where fog and Youngkinism merge
Honduras in a civil war
while cons like Ye and Tucker soar
while savings dive
with gas at five
bad brothering
and othering
both Parties never partying -
the juju of the dancing and the children is sacred
for hope
since crippled ice still sleeps under the earth
and Reddit stockers stoke the market girth
that consciousness of terms is lit with fists
this give of thanks is just a partial list
for humility that every day is Thanksgiving
and every smile an Amen
I am
Thankful.