in my war with my belly
I’m at a standstill

spinning weights
‘cross elliptical trajectory
while food-boarding enemy
per Atkins and South Beach
torture manuals

Oh Mississippi
how I crave
riding your crust
from northern cold
to southern creole

Oh Mississippi
how your mighty
lethargic bloat
bursts barriers
of our

is there a bus where
blacks, whites
reds, yellows
the rainbow is accepted?

is there a place where
compassion, acceptance
tolerance, love
humanity is greeted?

blended feelings of
love, cigarettes
strong coffee
as
pregnant, moody clouds
over
piercing hustle
of moody crowds
yawn open
my eyes
–Shawn S. Zahedi

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I witness everyday
walking by, what people say
what they eat, drink and smoke

I witness every night
those starving eyes, sneaking by
they pick

when the sun comes up
and the world is new
I won’t forget
all the moms I know

when the day has past
and flowers

purple coat
purple necklace
purple scarf

purple rings
purple pants
purple shoes

eyes sharp
yet faded
hands soft
yet aged

ups and downs
her face

I opened a window
wondering what’s out
over came a voice
watch what’s within

deaf, dumb and blind
bare to the bone
my broken will

we knew she was
eavesdropping

with every minute
her presence grew

peeking through the
blind unmoved

rays of her shine
signs of her crown
—

not even the hymns
chanted so often
caressing her skin
protect her from it

wrinkled and bruised
lonely steeple bell
stands testament
whiplash of time