The lie
Independence is a lie. No man is an island, but Man is parochial. He wants. Always.
Independence is a concept sold to us by our sophistic masters so that we can wave our flags, eat our bread, be entertained by our circuses. Man will build nations, so he has followers to perpetuate God in His image. Do not be tricked by the humble, for, they will inherit the earth - only to transform into their hypocritical masters!
Independence is saying 'we are against them'. It is a nefarious continuation of divide and rule. If man's communities become too convivial, too cooperative, on the verge of blurring the barriers between 'us and them', it's time for Independence! Our masters tell us: "Fight for Independence! Destroy your fellow man on account of his arbitrary differences due to accident of birth! Fight for independence to be ruled by me, not them! My bread is more fresh! My circus has more animals!"
We welcome, you, alien invaders, to be our new rulers, to harbour co-dependance. We have repeated our history over and over. We know it yet we don't change it, for we are too long infected. We kill, rape, lie and dishonour one another on the account of the sins of our fathers. Rule us, alien overlords - rule humanely - but not as humans do! Help us rebuild Babel through aggressive peace, longevity in life and permanent love for one another, everlasting. Save our planet, save us from the lie of independence!
It says...
It says: „Pull out that old dusty bench which used to be used when your friends came.“
It says: „Come on, man! Where is that aged whiskey which sparkled the conversation which never ends?“
It says: „My brother! Life is too short to despair and overthink.“
It says: „Let`s live, let`s feel, let`s make some stupid mistakes and actions.“
It says: „I haven`t spoken with you for such a long time. Now I wonna talk with you.“
It says: „Let me be the leader, the decision maker for a while.“
It says: „Oh man! It`s such a great moments with you.“
It says: „I wonna talk with people, laugh with people, get to know some fresh people.“
It says: „Forget money and go out. Forget the past, the future and live for this moment. You haven`t done this for a long time.“
It says: „You owe me moments like this.“
I say: „Welcome my friend. I was looking for you for years. Where have you been? You know what? Do not even try to explain where have you been. I do not wonna know. Just let`s have some fun, some great time, let`s make some memorable memories. It was epic the last time we were together, man! And it all started with that bench and whiskey, didn`t it?“
Mothers and Daughters
Go to school and focus on books
Don't focus on boys, don't focus on looks
Graduate and forget about your talents
Just think of how your skills will add to your marriage
But seriously, what an interesting wife you must be, what an interesting life
Don't look at me that way you'll understand when you're a wife
Just wait until you become a mother
But what you really mean is that you wish I'd had a brother
Get your degree but don't get too happy, you're not wearing no string of pearls
Why aren't you married yet? Or are you one of those girls who really likes girls?
That's none of your business, you're fresh out of luck
If you were looking for another way to say I'm a slut
Your friends whisper as they follow
Is it their opinions that you borrow?
Is that ink on her skin stick on or are those actually real?
What will her husband think? How will he feel?
My skin is covered in art, it'll stay if I peal
They breath life into me, these words that I deal
But why pick up a pen when you can whip up a meal?
So put on a white dress, beautiful daughter, be another lamb to the slaughter
Wear your reef of flowers and submit all your powers
Be a dutiful wife, be a dutiful daughter
So you can raise more dutiful daughters
To be beautiful daughters
So just be a dutiful daughter
⁃ M.N ©
Sitting For More Than Safety
Sitting here at 2:00 am, the room is silent… except for the continuously beeping pump in the next room over. It seems to be the only thing in this place that doesn’t get tired.
I close my eyes and inhale the familiar germicidal aroma of the sticky hand sanitizer that I keep reapplying. I can only use it four or five times before my hands need a fresh wash in the sink. When I open my eyes, I see my patient sleeping soundly after an eventful evening. He finally calmed down and gave up fighting with me about having a cigarette.
Sometimes I wonder why… Why do I put myself through these long, silent nights? Why do I willingly sit with some of these people knowing they will likely kick me, spit on me, hit me, or curse at me? Why do I sacrifice my body for theirs?
Because of that. What I’m looking at right now. A person in need, sleeping in peace.
Whether it is drugs, alcohol, mental illness, or the gruesome effects of aging… They suffer. But when I walk into the room for my shift, I suffer. I suffer for them.
I do what I can to make them comfortable. I do what I need to, to make sure they are taken care of. I talk about life, feed them pudding, walk them to the bathroom, and help them bathe. I measure intake and output, I empty colostomy bags and foleys, I monitor vitals, and I make their bed. I document the situation every fifteen minutes and alert the nurse of any significant changes. I do what I can to keep each patient entertained. My eyes do not leave the patient, and neither does my heart until the end of my eight hour shift.
I do not leave when I have to pee. I do not leave when visitors come to visit. I do not leave when they attack me. I do not leave their side.
The twenty-something year old guy withdrawing from heroin will likely yell, scream, and hit me. The elderly woman with dementia will punch me, spit on me, and bite my arm. The suicidal mother will cry to me for an hour and then try to suffocate herself while pretending to sleep.
But it is my job to make sure these things don’t happen. It is my duty to take on the burden of their suffering and hold it on my shoulders for a while. It is my job to help them get through this scary time in their life so that they can sleep soundly at night.
I sit here so your mother can be safe. I sit here so you can sleep at home knowing your brother is being watched. I sit here, so you don’t have to worry.
Sitting in this hospital is normal for me… It’s my job. But for my patient and their family, it’s the scariest time of their life.
Aunt Fanny
(For our friend, Ruby, from Mali and Michelle)
Aunt Fanny is a fussy, funny person
with her frizzy, fuzzy hair
and her super-spotless manners,
she's really quite the character.
Well, one day, dear Aunt Fanny
was frying eggs in a pan,
and with one flick of her wrist,
she sent those eggs a-flying.
Up, up those fried eggs flew
and finally stick to the ceiling.
Dear funny old Aunt Fanny
didn't know what in the world she was doing.
She looked around and about
for those little ol' fried eggs.
Finally she looked up and...PLOP!
They fell right onto her face.
They covered her eyes
so she couldn't see a thing.
She groped about and started to shout,
"Dearie me! Who turned the lights out?"
She limped around the kitchen,
knocking away pots and pans.
She dashed into the living room
to find a helping hand.
"Aunt Fanny!" I cried,
gazing with amazement
at the egg-eyed lady before me.
"Yes, it's me!" screeched poor Aunt Fanny.
I swiftly set to work
on those troublesome fried eggs.
I pulled, and pried, and tried
to get them off her face.
At last, with much effort,
and a little bit of muscle,
the eggs popped off her face,
but that wasn't the end of the trouble.
Aunt Fanny took a tumble.
She fell backwards on her...well, you know...fanny,
and she let out scream of surprise
as her hands shot up to rub her aching eyes.
Now to this very day,
dear Aunt Fanny doesn't fry her eggs.
She'd really rather eat them raw
than get another eyeful of shame.