These hands.
Just look at these hands.
May the above bless the work of these hands
Who sift and toil so much through the dirt.
That the dirt becomes a haven for the living.
The dirt was there before we were.
Some say we came from the dirt.
Others whisper we will go back to the dirt.
And we were taught to fear this dirt.
Because we escaped it.
When we don’t want it to be the indicator of final rest.
But now we know the dirt adds a missing component.
Called work which builds us.
So when we kneel down to gather this ground.
The work of these hands is put inside so that we multiply.
So our work becomes their work becomes your work.
And it all started because of one, toiling hand.
I don't think I have to ask the above to bless
Because we are already blessed.

I move in the area where ghosts reside when they are no longer counted as part of the living.
I wasn’t sent but somebody sent for me.
Because I come from a place that was a garden, but when I left it was abandoned.
Don’t mourn for it, don’t mourn for me.
Because when the sustenance stopped everyone should have known.
It is always better to find a place than to be displaced.
There was comfort there, I wanted to reach destiny.
So I counted the days that it could not rain until it outnumbered the seasons.
I saw a chance and seized the opportunity.
Because gardens are great but you can’t live outside forever.
And memories don’t build houses for me to live in.
The weather is never right and eventually all climate just becomes burdensome.
I moved in silence until only my actions could speak for themselves.
Now I feel like I belong, but I hope I won’t be long.
Because I looked up at the sky again, and it did not rain.
And the dryness in my throat says it’s about that time.

They try to write against me, but their pens are missing ink.
Told me that I couldn’t see, but I made sure that this vision blinks.
I was the only one brave enough to look up at the heating sun.
I gave the drumsticks to somebody to march to his own beating drum.
He handed it back to me, and said quite accurately.
That these were not sticks for drums but they were sticks to make fire.
I told him thank you and said that I would be sure to take higher.
He said It’s my pleasure, and although this is  no pressure.
Please step out of my shadow, because you are in the way of my leisure.

They posted pictures of their vacation.
I wondered where they get their money.
They always have smiles of elation.
I wish I knew what they look like when life isn’t funny.

Always posting pictures of their dating status.
Calling their significant others boo and bae.
One day they are in a relationship, the next they are the baddest.
Because their man could not be convinced to stay.

Sometimes they say that they hate their job and work.
They wish that they could earn money from home.
I always thought that to provide always came first.
And work is the portion of those who are grown.

But when they break up, no one ever sees that post.
And we never see the friends who get blocked.
Sometimes people on Facebook be doing the most.
And then wonder why their true friends are shocked.

Because to be a friend or a follower on social media is nothing.
A true friend is one who is with you through thick and thin.
I don’t mean your yo-yo dieting, or your social media husband.
I’m talking about those who held you down from the beginning.

I never thought that I would see the day.
Just as I got good at fighting.
That I would have to put my hands down.
I would have to sit down.
Because I am now grown up.
But maybe now I am good at a different type of fighting.
One that does not require me to stand.
But tells me to understand.
Because it is that time of fight.
Just because I put my hands down.
Does not mean I don't have to put my foot down.
It is better than putting my foot in my mouth
I don't like the taste of it.

I am a proud American.
But they say that pride goes before a fall.
I told them every year fall comes around.
So the American summer must be all pride.
Because summer is before pride.
And in summer we celebrate Independence Day.
Too bad we don’t celebrate Independence Eve.
The last day that we were not free.

Imagine if the time came to sign the Declaration of Independence.
And there was nothing to sign it with.
Panic all around.
White wigs falling as they scramble to find writing utensils.
So we can see gray hair and no hair.
Someone crying out, How will Britain know we are independent
If we do not sign this Declaration.
Then it is just a paper full of grievances and complaints!
It would sound like whining!

Someone yelling out, “The ink is made from geese.
We must prepare a fattened geese
And extract the ink from it.
Hurry, hurry!
Another voice screamed, You fool!
The pen is made from geese
Not the ink!

In comes John Hancock.
With the writing implement.
He came in saying, No need to torment geese
They will be our dinner in time.
I will sign first.
Then he started to sign.
And his signature took up half the document.
And said with pride, I wrote it so that George III can read.
Without having to use glasses.
But how would George III read it
If the Declaration of Independence stayed in America?
The others sign.
And now I can say I am a proud American.
Because there is an America to be proud of.

People seem to always ask me.
When they see me with outstretched hand
What do you want to be when you grow up?
First of all, I’m grown.
I’m twice the age of a teenager who enters high school.
I have lived their life twice.
And each time saw the same outcome.
Secondly, I really don’t know.
All my life I was told that when you grow up you have answers.
Only to realize at my age there is always questions.

What to do, when to do it.
I’m too old to be a pro athlete.
Too young to be president.
And too busy to care either way.
So I get I could want to be an attribute.
Like kind, smart, funny.
I think I heard someone over there said I was cute.
But kind, smart and funny doesn’t pay the bills.
And I don’t want the bills that cute pays.

So I guess I could stay in my lane.
And think with confidence.
I went to school to get loans
That would buy a house in middle America.
So that I could be uncertain about job prospects
And as a bonus I would have everyone on tv.
Tell me how easy it is to make money
But they are silent when I say I want a career.
They are also silent because I am yelling at a tv
But never mind.
So I guess I could just do what I went to school for.
To be an inspiration to others who are coming up
So that there are professionals who think like me.