Curiosity

early morning, I read a note by an erudite:
“curiosity is the key.”
it sparked a notion I deliberately obscured.
curiosity is unforgiving, yet a graceful path
it has taken many and then given me much
perhaps life is too short for it.
yet, it dances in the universe to make life alive.
I am convinced for now,
it is a way of life worth living.

3.16.2023

Name

it was one of the endless hot summer days
I rode my bike uphill back home from the office
red fire hydrants sprayed sprinkles of water
onto glistening black asphalt road
I stopped by a grocery shop run by immigrants
that had no AC on and smelled
spices, meat, and exotic vegetables
when I stood by cashier to pay
the elderly man bagging my grocery
stared at me with sun-baked wrinkled face
and slowly called out my name
at first, I couldn’t understand him.
he pointed at my name tag hung around my neck
and from consonant to vowels
slowly read my name
and stared into my eye
perhaps this was a rite of passage
or a reckoning of a soul
from another
who knows the price of life.

3.14.2023

Final

when the angels arrive
and you are asked the question:
“what do you regret”
let us smile and say:
“none too many”
thus, let us ask ourselves today:
“am I loving?”
“am I honest to myself?”
“have I given my best?”
for we pass through our days
like burning coals on a stack of calendars
let us hold on to the rein tight,
and draw picture we want to draw.
it will be a one good ride.

3.12.2023

Sharp

be careful if you start hearing sweet words.
do not let your heart be distracted.
walk the walk that you must walk.
speak the truth and hold onto them
even if everyone walks away from you.

be curious when you hear harsh criticisms
remember each of the burning words
implore the meaning within them
for there might be a hidden gem
more precious than you can imagine

3.9.2023