musings of a parallel universe

maybe in another universe, they never came 

and we wouldn’t have to pay to see ourselves in museums. 

maybe in another universe, they never came 

and what was lost was never stolen  

we sit in classrooms learning 

where debt will welcome us into the real world

we learn our history from books filled with words 

written by ghosts who tried to capture our souls 

Instead of the trees who saw everything 

how can you tell our story and still stand in the sun

keep sweet keep silence keep truth

hidden in glass cases in temperature-controlled rooms

across the ocean blue

they came to carve the land 

served themselves

And went back for seconds

i wonder 

if the land recognizes me like an old friend 

each foot steps in a language only we speak. 

she lets me fly before calling me home

Mama always says ‘stay away from people who devour the earth, for they don’t like you either,’ 

she’s heard enough violence

they say, ‘we acknowledge’

when they really mean absolve us of the sins of our fathers 

the earth keeps getting hotter 

but she told me I was born to survive this kind of weather

why are you afraid if the sun is here to watch over us

sit quietly by the trees 

the land remembers who come around to give thanks 

and those who expect it.