Shrink into yourself
infinitesimally small
Invisible to most
Comfortable but lost.
Then with Good reason
Flex for freedom
Like in days of old when
The weak were defended
Unconcerned for the few
Who took advantage.
Radiate energy
Make human connections
Ready to overrule
The deluge of misinformation.
Stretch flesh and bone
Incredibly thin
Risk skin-pricks
And bones that crack.
Keep breathing
Expand inside out
Until your chest muscles
cry out
Calculate for pain ?
Refresh your head with
good Viking air
Exhale at the brink —
Don’t burst.
As the country ices over
In once civil spaces
Watch your back
Since states of confusion
Breed crazy
Perceptions.
Confidence gets shaky
at eye level
Shock with dim recognition
Etch lines of doubt
In good citizen faces.
Your bubble
On horizontal
Shifts vertical
Your best flips inside out
Turns radical.
Habits alter
Spheres of influence falter
To glimpse higher visions
Requires better glasses.
On whims of viral winds
Ice pirates flew in
Slip sliding through town
To clamp argument down.
Ice blankets urban scenes
In bellicose gear
War weapons for arms
Aimed at creating fear.
With unfriendly frowns
Loaded for bear
They guard dicey ground
Praise an idol of gold
Black coal eyes
See nothing but trouble
Point angry fingers
Curse friendly neighbors
Invent new crimes.
Perpetrate dread
Scare innocent people
Shoot a mother dead
For asking questions
No sign of contrition.
On frozen streets travelers greet
Peaceful comrades
Chant historic phrases
Endure long winter nights
Dance on thin ice
Skin sunburned
Raw and red
Wind chaffed cheeks
Refuse to submit.
Strange times
Call for loud protests
Thoughts on fire
Minds who love rest
Turned inside out
Make time to speak
In freedom.
It’s flight or fight!
Stirred by nightmare scenes
Never dreamed serious
Somnolent brains awaken
To ugly conditions.
You wish a friendly snow
To provide deep cover
Douse flames ignited by
Violent raiders.
Snowballs effects
Roll down Minnesota hills
An avalanche of courage
Drives out intrusions
Drowns obscene collusion
And binary illusions.
A warm sun will rise
Burrow under storm clouds
As public bodies
Assemble
in countless numbers
Brave abuse with nimble cheer
To treat this pollution
We march as one
Face certain collision
Plan waste disposal.
May Minneapolis snow
Silence this thuggery
Until spring melts
Away dirt from the ravage of ice
Washes streets clean
Into warm Gulf Stream waters
So blue ocean currents can
Restore the good life
Bring us back to our
Common senses.
THH
01/21/26
Thoughts Have Hands 