plea

if YOU
do not stand up for them,
then, who will ?
if YOU do not push back when their potential
is bottled and sealed,
who will ?
who can
teach them how to stand up
for themselves,
when they u n f o l d
into the future,
everyday...
if no one will listen to them,
then, ultimately, what will it take ?

~

RN

The Oncoming

There is a picture on the outside

of my windshield

frozen

black and white

And the images move like shadows,

slowly distorting,

with the crossing light

And I touch the memory with warmth

and with fingertips, 

disbelieving,

As the frost 

spirals out, reveals the oncoming—

And she wakes me before I crash. 

~

RN

red cap

oh, the man
with the red pen
chewing on his cap
how you must feel powerful
crossing out
and editing
those words.

~

RN