Doctrine

translating clouds
into panting,
thirst-throated air

arguing until
finally linear
in clemency

until I spider
empty, blank
to the-end-ing

descending, and
taking little boats
to the i-land

making pronouns
for the future,
which is now.

_

Deeply Beloved

And extremely effective
 Abdul El-Sayed campaign worker!

_

Princely

the sentimental sediment--
rainbows in rain puddles,

your breast darkening--
cold lake, bright day

hoarding every murmur
as an insect's confession

I look for you in the desert
when heat dies deeply purple

_

A Day

the smells of summer
the patterns of rain
the limits of day

under satisfaction
the shadowy dirt
of an open road

--

Also, what Nu got in her summer basket:

(At got something similar)

(Water bottle, headband, hat, notebook (all items $1); tanks, 

Black Panther, Aru Shah, sunscreen for school, a Lansing city passport.)

--

Summer

love
like a holiday
(the British holiday)
(ok, although perhaps
holy as the American too)
seeing it unfurl in your face
feeling it come to fire in your touch
hearing it in your safe, sea-like sibilance

_

I Miss the Children

The shadow of a smile
the shadow of a shadow

of a shadow
of a smile

keeps showing up
restless

in changing light
in change

teeth, no teeth,
tight thin

lipless, this
shadow

the lost children
their lost parents

the circus of grief
the grimy

half-eaten repetitions
nothing will ever

be safe
be sane
be saved
in shadows




   An ICE prison bus full of baby seats.


_

"An Evening in India"

I've always wanted to run a restaurant, so I was so thrilled when people bid on my offering, "An Evening in India" at the UU silent auction. It was BUSY, so I don't have a single picture, but I'm going to leave the menu here.

I'll also leave it here that the kids chafed a bit at the relentless exotification and snarked: Do we have to dress up in Indian clothes too? Rascals.

An Evening in India Menu

Course 1:     A Warm Welcome

v Chiwda (fried lentil and dried fruit mix)

v Samosas (savory pastries)

v Aloo Tikki (spicy potato bites)

v Nimbu Pani (Lemon Water)

Course 2:     Fresh Beginnings

v Shorba: Carrot-ginger coconut-milk soup with roasted cauliflower

Course 3:     The Heart of it All

v Indian Flag Pulao (Basmati Rice with green peas and carrots)

v Mughalai Chicken with sultanas and apricots

v A very, very, very veggie curry with panneer (cottage cheese)

v Mango Dhal (Lentils with unripe mango, toasted coconut, coriander, and tomatoes)

v Cucumber and celery Raita (yogurt-cumin sauce) w/ mint

Course 4:     Sweet Endings

v Mango kulfi ice cream with cardamom and almond sprinkles

v Mava (milk and caramel cake)

v Mukhwas (mouth-freshening fennel candy)

v Mint Tea