One of the earliest emotions we experience as human beings is fear. It makes sense, it helps us survive, we need fear to identify who we can trust. Yet, we hold on to fear as a guide for way too long. There are many things we should continue to have a cautious anxiety about - guns aimed at us, people trying to take away our rights, and ingesting things we don't recognize are good examples of this. But what about the things we fear that limit our lives and have no reason to control us? Food, new people, new experiences. I would ask of myself and my readers to find one thing that you fear over the next few weeks and face it down. For instance, talk to someone you are interested in authentically, challenge yourself to learn something you don't know, act silly, eat, or take responsibility for your own dreams. Write to me and let me know what you try. I will admit, right here, that I am going to submit some poems to journals and aim for some publications. My back-up plan is to find a writers group to help me decide how to better my poems. I will let you know how it works. I end with this:
"Prescription"
Stagger and flop in America
Hold this night beside love
Slather paradise with poppy blossoms
Drip like rhythm, not matter
Play life in a river until dizzy.
