Poway, California (feat. Aja Monet)

What does it mean to be considered?
Looked after?
Thought of?
Tucked in, held, or wondered about?
Attended to?
Regarded as deserving of want or need?
Never alone, in arms
Another belonging
A heart, horizon-wide

Care
Is a voice with hands trembling
Courage a hold letting go
Here is a sip of love
Warm and unspeakable music
Opens a chest
Clears a throat like herbal tea
Homemade breath crossing lung to lung
Sharing air like a kiss
Soft cough drop soothing shame
Like the rhythm of uncontrollable laughter

When you are sick
It's the gentle gestures of grace
A song in the thick of grief
A lightened load of laundry falling heavy on a shoulder

Care is a room full of listening
Care is familiar and thankless
While people hoard their nothingness
Lounging in despair
The earth cleanses itself of greed

But care is knocking on your door
Like Abuelita waiting a line for food stamps
Care has mouths to feed
Wastes no words, is deliberate, and knows tomorrow's not promised.

Care is inconvenient and intentional
Like poetry pouring out
Anyway.