How To Miss The Boat
By Ryan Lugalia Hollon
instruction one:
believe
the earth rises when you rise
sleeps when you sleep
cries when you cry
cares when you care,
all moving at the speed of you.
instruction two:
act indignant
at the first sign
that ‘instruction one’ may be false.
promptly remind yourself –
you are the controller
of traffic and tornadoes,
commanding conformity
with even your smallest needs.
final instruction:
continuing bending wills
of nature and civilization,
even if all hell breaks loose.
when farmers demand payment
for their goods
or squirrels refuse to share
their winter storehouses,
when grocery store aisles
present themselves as labyrinth
and your girlfriend’s questions
do not arrive in a multiple choice format,
act as if the world is made by fools.
About The Author
Ryan Lugalia Hollon
Ryan Lugalia-Hollon, Ph.D, is the Program Director for Excel Beyond the Bell – San Antonio. He has worked in the youth development field for nearly twenty years. When not supporting young people, he enjoys writing poetry, living poetically, and spending time with the loved ones who inspire his words.
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