THE POEM OF YES

The Poem of YES

Gave up

Air pressure like an anvil

Forcing me to stop

Lie on floor

Wondering if my heart would stop

Cat there

Flattened

Why go on?

If you can't stand the Heat...

Then what?

A show of hands, please.

Who fucking knows?

Just lying there

Pretending it was good for me.

Then it came to me

After how long I don't know

"THE YES IS WHAT MATTERS"

And I saw

My Week

had too many

No's.

No, you can't do that.

No, I should do that.

No, we don't want that.

No, because she hates us.

No, because we hate him.

No, because I'm afraid of you.

No, because I just

can't.

Then I remembered a text from my friend

sent from his favorite place on Earth:

"I am always happiest when I am here..."

And I felt what it feels like to feel free.

Even just for a moment.

Because you feel loved.

And you are giving love.

You are wanted. And you are glad to be wanted.

I thought, "I need to write this down."

THE YES IS WHAT MATTERS.

I got up.

Rumbling.

Outside rain.

Sun shining.

Thunder.

So so hot still.

But wet.

And the lady across the street

Watering her lawn.

But I made it back.

And I am not afraid anymore.

Marlan Warren, August 2017, Los Angeles, California