it doesn't matter

it doesn't matter what
you're wearing
it doesn't matter how
much stuff you have
or what you don't
it doesn't matter 
where you grew up
where you were born
or where you ended up
it doesn't matter if
you took the long way
or the short--
what does matter--
is the joy and
happiness that you
share with other
people--
where do you find it ?
where do you grow it ?
where can you help it
flow 
until it pours ?

~

RN

Wait

i'm not going to 
wait until you're gone,
to tell you
i appreciate you
i'm not going to
wait to tell you i
love you
when the feeling's bursting
at the seams
i'm not going to 
withhold showing you i care
there is nothing
stopping me
there is no other
time than now
there is nothing 
comparable to this
we found each
other for so many reasons.

~

RN

flawed

you are not
beautiful
because of the way
you look
on the outside
but because of how
you love
and give
and care.

~

RN

Legacy

when your pride
comes from
a place that
includes 
the enslavement
of another people,
it is no longer
a source 
of pride.

~

RN

come out

i dared
the thoughts
to come out onto
the paper
they sneered
and sighed and
laughed and
pointed
and then got quiet
humbled
by my pen.

~

RN