Did You Go Outside Today
Joshua Jennifer Espinoza
Did you go outside today
Did you see the people
climbing one another
their fingers twisted
and tangled in
each other's hair
Did you think to yourself
how long can this continue
Did you know the answer
was forever
Did you stay alive anyway
Did you dig through piles
of dead grass and bone
to find a kind word
Did you let the storm
roar through your insides
and dissipate over the lake
Did you use a glance
to silently say hello to
every beautiful queer
floating through
this violent world
Did you force yourself to believe
in god or good energy
just to swallow the air here
Did you know you are
full of grace
and selfless glowing
Did you feel your strength
rumbling below the surface
Did you know
you have so much strength
you could take out
a neighborhood
a city
a nation
a planet
Did you know we give
each other strength
with every single breath
Did you go outside today
and breathe