Project 2025: A Poem

May I live / to see better years

Me, age 2-ish, in my grandparents’ yard

Project 2025

            after Maggie Smith, et al.

May I sleep 

                        deeply
 
                        dreaming 
                        of things loved 
                        and lost 

                        eight hours 
                        each night, 
                        and between, 
                        cat naps—
 
                        that is,  
                        naps with cats  
                        curled up 
                        at my feet 

May I eat 

                        well 
                        often
 
                        with intention 
                        gratitude 
                        pleasure
  
                        thinking always
                        of those who go 
                        hungry 

                        of the earth 
                        which could feed  
                        every mouth 
                        if we let ki	 

May I move 

                        strengthening 
                        in body 
                        as in spirit 

                        running 
                        stretching  
                        pacing 
                        dancing  
                        pushing 
                        pulling 
 
                        until my muscles 
                        are as firm 
                        as my will 

May I touch  

                        myself 
                        strangers 
                        lovers 
                        family 
                        friends 

                        grass
                        river water 
                        dog fur  

                        in hugs and kisses 
                        in sex 

                        the joy of love 
                        for another 

May I laugh 

                        loudly 
                        joyfully 
                        triumphantly 

                        when I’m not  
                        supposed to 

                        at myself  
                        at the world 

                        at power,
                        its failures, 
                        and the silly things 
                        it does to
                        thrive 

May I cry 

                        from relief 
                        from grief 
                        from anger 

                        but never  
                        from shame 

                        over death and 
                        needless suffering 

                        over power, 
                        its victories, 
                        and the terrible things 
                        it does to  
                        thrive		 

May I apologize 

                        freely 

                        as easily as 
                        breathing 

                        without 
                        argument 
                        or defense 
 
                        and never 
                        let being 
                        right 
                        get in the way 
                        of being  
                        good 

May I forgive 

                        freely 

                        as easily as 
                        breathing
 
                        for I too 
                        have needed 
                        forgiveness
 
                        and never 
                        let being 
                        right 
                        get in the way 
                        of being 
                        happy

May I think

                        clearly
                        carefully

                        better of others
                        and myself 

                        about others
                        before myself

                        before I act
                        before I react
                        before I impact
                        this fragile web
                        that holds us
                        together

May I speak
		 
                        clearly 
                        carefully
 
                        honestly 
                        but not brutally
 
                        compassionately 
                        or fiercely 
                        as the situation 
                        calls
 
                        with words  
                        befitting 
                        the burden  
                        of personhood 

May I act 

                        out of love 
                        not out of fear
 
                        from my  
                        heart 
                        as my brain 
                        advises 
                        and my body 
                        keeps the score
 
                        on the 
                        loving choice 
                        even if it is  
                        a foolish one 

May I create

                        drawing 
                        singing 
                        playing
                        cooking 
                        sewing 
                        building 
                        growing 
                        hoping 
                        writing 
                        writing  
                        writing 

May I live 

                        to see better years 

by Jane McBride

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Read more about this poem here:

Behind the Monster: “Project 2025”

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