There’s a war out there
(some old pervert pedophile set the world on fire
to distract from his affairs)
Gas price is at an all-time high
(while the provincial government does its best to take away people’s human rights
as they sell our future, and our land – not even ours – to the extremist right)
Books are banned
(by the same free-speech absolutists)
Healthcare is rationed
(by the same people who want freedom to not vaccinate)
Everything is about the next tax break
(and which immigrants – hint: the white ones – get to stay and get to live)
Despite all that
I like the way
when I wake up in the morning, and I turn to my left,
my husband moved a little closer to me
assuming the little spoon position
and we cuddled
as I watched the sun rises outside my window.
No words.
He’s not even fully awake.
I like the way
my dog curls up to me on the couch
and looks up at me with her puppy dog eyes
as I tell her things about world affairs and humans’ ridiculousness
“I don’t understsand a thing you are saying daddy
I’m just a dog
Now give me treats”
(and I sneak her some treats
while my husband silently judges)
“You’re gonna make that dog, fat, you know”
(as he deep dive into his bag of Munchies)
I like the way the spring sun touches my face
(and don’t tell anyone this, but)
I also like the way, the spring snow touches my face
(cold, crisp, but refreshing
and alive)
Oh, what a privilege it is
to temporarily forget about the world outside
to retreat into your bubble
to play sports as your gender
to go to places with your vehicle
to wake up safe in your bed, cuddled with the one you love
to have food that makes you fat
to walk outside on a spring day
and not worry about the world outside
They say Joy is an act of resistance
but what if Joy is a privilege
afforded to us by our safe place, our clean water, our clean air, and our safe food
What if Joy is the next commodity to be taken away
(by the rich
for the rich
and their friends)
I’d rather go touch grass
(a bit more
a bit longer)
before that becomes a reality
Pace Fine Arts 