Here, the bees serve an evil queen.

Joan Brown - Self-Portrait with Swimming Coach Charlie Sava
at Larsen Pool, S.F., 1974

Chew the eyes slowly. You have lined up the eyes of six cats on a plate, and you have in your hand a spoon made of the finest silver. The room is new to you; before this, your father never let you in here. You, who have wintered in the dark and summered in the warm light. This is your Chernobyl, your Dachau. Shame and denial are twin births in family after family. The honey is all gone now, eaten by the barbarians, armed with rifles. Here, the bees serve an evil queen. Here, the hive speaks an imperfect English. A chill, born of fear, not temperature, fills the silent room. What can you do? You push the eyes onto the spoon with one of your dirty fingers, and you lift it to your mouth and eat.

james lee jobe 

It's always just beginning.  Everything is always just beginning.  

Jakusho Kwong, "10 seconds of Zen"

Erica Hopper - Sidewalk Poet

Death is knocking at the door. Please, let him in. I wasn't going to live forever anyway. Death has always been waiting for me, like a poor man waiting at a bus stop. Today,tomorrow; is there a difference? I'm not sure what comes next, but whatever it is, I would rather stroll in upright than cower and wait. Face the end of it all with a glib remark. A smirk. Death is a hot iron, and friend, this shirt is wrinkled.

james lee jobe 

The cry of the poor is is not always just, but if you don't listen to it, you will never know what justice is.

Howard Zinn

Joan Brown

After years of sleeping, your soul is awake. Your eyes are brown seas that flood the sky at dusk. Naked, your body holds the Seven Hills of Rome, and the children there squeal with delight. Garcia Lorca rose from the dead to see you dance, and then returned to heaven. The snow envies your laughter, and mountains have fallen at the mere chance of you, at the thought of kneeling before your rich heart. There is a starving bear walking toward you now, but don't worry about it; he has your best interests in mind. Nothing is preordained. I don't believe in fate or luck, not for a moment. I just believe in you.

james lee jobe (For Alexandra)

When you sit, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing. 

Ajahn Chah

JLJ

Lot of restlessness in the world today — may all beings find inner peace. You. Me. Everyone.

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James