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One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now.
~for Miraku Uwadiae
1. I never knew a woman who skyscrapers a cornfield like you.
2. Life plucks Hope’s feathers, but you sew them back. Never pierce my skin.
3. Your “amen” translates into 500 languages, a Kapok tree teeming with animal
sighs, a storm of Nigerian tears, a dog-earred book of psalms.
4. I love how you allow dreams to rouse you from bed mornings when each bone
wants to sink into sheets.
5. You chase laughter down long dark hallways, even days with no pay and rent due
soon.
6. A GED agreed that your mind opens wide for knowledge, even dead American
presidents who never spoke your name.
7. The 3-year-old boy clinging to you hears Love whisper in his ear, tell him he’s
smart and strong, bold and funny, kind and gentle, even when he’s tangled in
noise.
8. Isn’t it wild how you traveled 5,499 miles to a new continent to teach me
Christmas lights aren’t strung on fir trees?
9. Your smile in scrubs on CNA pinning day was 8th Wonder-worthy, the
masterpiece I’ve waited my life to see.
10. You are my country; I pledge allegiance to you.
More from Dana Kinsey ↓
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Poetry shows us what we need. Thank you for being part of the experience.
Mentioned in this episode:
Write After: National Poetry Month with One Poem Only
Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.
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