linda m. crate
poetry
i want to truly live
i want to truly live
i don’t want data centers
or ai,
i want drinkable water
and forests more ancient than
my bones;
i don’t want billionaires to
destroy the universe
out of their greed—
i want to live a life that feels
like joy, happiness, and laughter
not one that feels like
punishment;
i am sick of struggling in a world
that has enough resources
for us all—
i am tired of working myself
to the bone to be told
i am too lazy
just because i wasn’t born with
a silver spoon in my mouth,
tired of trying my best
only for it not to be enough;
i want to truly live and thrive
and grow not simply
exist.
loving gods
if i love her,
and she loves me;
our love is true
and radiant and full
of magic and mutual
adoration and compassion—
then what should you
care?
me kissing a girl
won’t end the world,
me marrying a girl
won’t end the world;
you killing someone because
of who they love is destroying
someone’s world—
each of us is someone’s
whole universe,
and each of us is worthy;
everyone should have a place
in this earth to simply be—
and if your religion tells
you to hate someone then i
think you’re part of the wrong
religion or you are not
worshipping right,
because loving gods don’t tell
you to hate people
especially not for something
they cannot control;
love is love
and she comes in many
different shades, songs,
and poems and each of them
is beautiful.
the open flames
they tell me
i have too much anger,
but they don’t stop
to think why i might be
angry;
i live in a world full
of magic, miracles,
and blessings;
yet i have to stress over
the man-made concepts
of money, taxes, and war;
genocide, famine,
and poverty are tools that are
used to exploit people
and extract their resources—
the greed and need for
billionaires to be the last one
to sit on top of a pile of skulls
is absolutely disgusting;
and i am so exhausted of having
to keep showing up with a
smile at work as if the world isn’
on fire and billionaires aren’
shoving us into the open flames.
