Member Poem

A name like
Loolabelle Johnson
Cannot be taken too seriously
Which, I think, is why she beckons me

For life is so innately 
Cold, Hostile, and
Eager to feed our anxiety
That I see no need in seeking out
Any more inspiration for
Fear, Anger, or
Seriousness

I want to read
Mary Oliver, Christopher Moore, and
Thich Nhat Hanh 
Quietly in my warm bath.
You can keep your
Game of Thrones, War, and
Hunger Games
When did we decide to give so much of ourselves,
To play that kind of game?

This is not to say
That I am timid
And hide from injustice
This is not to say
That I am passive
And flee from confrontation

I am the steward 
Passionately defending
The spawning Kokanee,
Yelling at  parents
Teaching their offspring
That it’s okay to reach into 
Sacred waters full of sex and death
And probe at our dying brethren
Like a game.
For a photo.
They are better off, I scream,
At Disneyland
With the masses of sheep
And obesity in training.

I am the Crazy White Lady
Screeching on the autumnal riverbank

I am the mother
Who loses hot temper
Imploring my children
To cease their incessant
Bickering, whining and
Arguing
To clean their mess
And carry their load
With words too strong
And tone too harsh.
I am the Stern Matriarch
With unyielding pride for my children
They are better than yours,
Because I do not suffer anything less than their very best,
Even as I am at my very worst.

I am wholly imperfect.

This is when
Loolabelle Johnson
Calls to me
Reminding me to
Breathe, Laugh, and
Let go.
Speak with peace
From love, and
Thank God
I have a better person
To be
Every day.

Reflect.
Each day I will
Laugh and breath and
Try.
And if I am lucky,
When I am old
And wearing purple as I swing on my front porch
With my best old lady friend
We will play bad music on guitars and ukuleles
And sing made up lyrics about frogs and men
Or Joni Mitchell songs.

We will not make a serious business of Life
We will listen to our grandchildren play
With puppies,
And throw red ripe raspberries at them
Or shoot at them with water guns
And know
That life is best
When they call you Loolabelle.