Tag: love

I’d Rather Have a Cup of Coffee

I’d rather have a cup of coffee with a transgender woman…. than with any extremist on the right, most likely she won’t even own a gun let alone an AR15….. she hates violence of any type,

and since she studies history, we could talk about the constitution…. “assault rifles are not in there…” she continues, “do you realize how long it takes to reload a musket?”

She’s getting her PhD next year, but she tears up, reaches for a tissue from her purse because children aren’t being taught about the pain of racism, “slavery really did happen…. we need to acknowledge our pain, so we can heal”…. I shake my head yes,

when I mention the radical left, she laughs saying, “I’m more of a John McCain myself…..you see how people assume?” …. She mentions the only radicals she knows are in a musty old basement on the east side of Brooklyn, university students writing their manifesto….. “by the way, they have no guns,” she quickly adds,

“I think people just want Grandma to have her electricity on, to have heat in the winter, and some decent food to eat…. instead of dog food out of a can…. is that so terrible?” No not at all, not even one bit, “that’s not radical…. that’s being human,” I add. “Exactly!” she says.

Yes, I’m sure I could have an amazing conversation with a transgender woman….. but not with an extremist, from the right.

What time does Starbucks close?

Writing and Image Copyright © 2022 rivers renewed

Where the Sky was Once Blue 18+

In the Not Too Distant Future,

As I looked at my phone, Emma’s text said. “Meet her at the corner of Banner St. and Oak Leaf, and her name is Mari” As I drove the final mile, the sky was still its normal colors of fire. There was orange and pink and sometimes swirls of purple, where it had once been blue. Another missile screamed overhead trailing black and gray smoke.

And there she was! Another human being still alive, and was that her son? As I got out of my SUV limping with my hiking pole, both of them waved. We all had our masks on and protective equipment. I beamed at her, and I was hoping she could tell.

She introduced herself and Fernando her 10 year old, when a cloud of orange exploded, and a popping noise began to rain not far away. I yelled, “A Searching Drone! We need to get inside!”  With our masks and protective clothing off inside, I noticed her middle was large. Was she pregnant?

She mentioned, “I can still have your child…. if that’s what you want….” She smiled with eyebrows raised in a question. I wasn’t shocked at all, and these were desperate times, but I said, “Honey, I’m too old for you, and besides I’m just looking for conversation!” I hadn’t seen anyone in months.

It was actually cozy in her kitchen as she took out a platter of fruit and cheese. Another drone scanned the neighborhood. “I’m sorry the fruit is canned, that’s all we have left now.” I understood. I was so grateful, and we made small talk about how much supplies we had, and would the plagues ever end? Everything was going just fine until she took my hand and began massaging it with her thumb.

She said, “It’s just that I really need…I mean I really really need some…some…company.” Well I admit it. I was nervous. Who wouldn’t be?

When I found out she wasn’t actually pregnant, that was it. I was in trouble for sure. I didn’t know what to say. She practically dragged me up the steps to the bedroom, mentioning on the way up that Fernando would be in the basement, tending his plants. “His plants?”

Later, after I thought our wildness had subsided, I was beginning to doze off when she moved in close again. I felt her rub my arm.

She whispered, “You awake?”

Writing and Image © Copyright 2022 rivers renewed

Next Saturday: Why did Emma place us together?

An Older Couple in Love

When we are talking and I look at your hair,

your mystery deepens, how

can the world be in a few strands

of black and grey, with a little bit

of brown?

how can one set of eyes

hold so many answers, give so many clues

making sense of our world,

and how do you still hold the fire

with skin so soft?

you intoxicate me….

Poetry and Image Copyright © 2018, 2022 rivers renewed

Wind in the Leaves

Wind in the leaves brings healing

to my spirit,

yet, with this size wound

will I be able

to recover?

We all go through tough situations, all of us. Sometimes though the wounds become just too much.

I’m there now. My wife is ok, although she’s still getting treatments. I won’t go into details, but I am in need of healing. I’ve always been open and honest, so there it is.

The poet needs healing.

It may be days, or weeks, I don’t know. I may share some previous work until then.

If you ever get a message saying this is a private site it just means the break will be extensive.

I have two sources I go to for internal healing: nature and love. Yes of course there is God and faith but for me that is the love part.

I’m convinced God doesn’t have an AR-15.

And there’s my wife. She’s my best friend in the whole world.

So thank you for understanding, maybe the internal healing will come much sooner than I know. One can hope.

Blessings,

Nico

Writing and Image Copyright © 2022 rivers renewed

P.S. If you want to contact me try my email on gmail at nicodemasplusthree.

Where I Live Now

Did I move to another site?! No. Did I migrate to Twitter? Nah! Not interested.

However I wanted to share where my poetry and other writings come from. In my heart I do seek renewal, wholeness, and the beautiful healing of nature simply because…..I know what broken is.

We all have tragedies that take place in our lives and Rumi wrote about brokenness being where the light comes in. I know what this is like for sure!

My wife almost died from cancer years ago, and she has had cancer several times since then but a different type. Or rather what she had morphed into tumors. She still receives treatments today.

I remember her being in ICU the first time around, her kidneys were shutting down, and she had several heart attacks. It was not looking good. Pain and grief almost took me down completely. I was terrified for years.

It was a blood cancer, in other words the cancer was in her blood. She did recover from that and she’s a walking miracle. Thank God! Now though she deals with tumors.

Yet I want that light that comes through brokenness. I embrace it. Even through other tragedies I seek light that comes through, bringing healing.

The other area my writing comes from is love. The love I have for my wife is incredibly and wonderfully powerful. Love also motivates me in my faith towards God.

I want you to know I am a person of faith, but we are not a part of the far-right weaponized mentality that is destructive. You will never get a Christmas card from us holding assault rifles or shotguns. We would never do that.

Our faith is one of peace, love and tolerance.

So to summarize: my writing comes from embracing the light that comes through brokenness, great love, and faith.

This is where I live now.

Wishing you peace.

Writing and Image Copyright © 2022 rivers renewed