Eyes of glass

Distress signals
ebbing to the edge of me.
What am I asking,
A need?
Or simply looking for
answers
that don't yet exist.

Disconnected.
I see you among recognized strangers.
You talking, expressing, smiling, laughing.
Me with hopeful eyes on you,
behind glass.

Americans

Fat Americans are
everywhere.
Sweating, consuming,
wearing poorly fitted clothing,
sitting on a throne.
How are we seen?
Are you surprised?
(From glimpses of Wuxi, China, 6/2010)

Unease

Voices, radio, intrusion.
A boat rumbles.
A Jeep perturbed
by sand.
Stuck.

Men.
Produce fear,
for only being a man.
Me, a single woman.
Anxiety shifts to
unease.

Wake-up call

Sun rising over a hazy city
with palms sprouting
from disheveled sidewalks
of filth, brokenness, and hope.
Dirt, trash, deterioration
outlined in soft, worn pastels.
A couple grinds flour,
school uniforms glide past me,
all with shy smiles
and opened eyes.
Burma.

(From journal, Rangoon, August 21, 2008)

Expectations

the person you expect.
expectations.
so i was not perfect
enough
to fit your every need,
you with more expectations,
more criticisms of not my own inward struggle.
aren't unmet expectations saying,
not good enough?
what do you expect?
with too many expectations.

i am, me.
good enough and more,
to exceed all your
expectations.
but indeed perfection
is not my truth.
expect imperfection
and truth.
i am,
not an expectation.

Once

i thought once
was enough,
but once only comes one time.
twice or thrice.
bridging the gap in time.
time that it takes
to hold back that anger,
that fleeting memory,
that once there was love.
twice or thrice.
wouldn't it be nice?

Confidence

Confidence.
Decisions--
made surely, firmly.
Strength
of character, convictions.
Respect--
for me, for him.
Cherished.
Encouraged.
Blooming and
growing
into me.