Author: thetaxidermistsyoungest
I am a liminal woman. I want to heal all the breaches I can.
Panning for Gold
keep on working patiently sifting to see the water needs to be a little more pure the mud is still stirred the bottom still obscured keep on not for the gold but for the water IMAGE: Fool’s Gold (mica) that I panned from West Point Lake in 2017 Continue reading Panning for Gold
Little Birdies
(a poem about my own real Invisible Friends, with bonus philosophical musings such as: 1. Being Alive is different for different species. 2. Can anyone trust their perception or is it all compromised by projection? 3. Observer’s Paradox; How much … Continue reading Little Birdies
A Concerned Monkey comments on the Human Game.
This game the humans play is not fun any more. Here are the basic rules of the game. Human A suffers loss and has pain. Perhaps he lost someone, or he is ill. Human A walks around feeling in pain. Human B’s Game Goal is to avoid Person A’s pain. Human B has several action strategies to avoid sharing the pain of his fellow human. to convince himself that person A isn’t really in pain do something addictive to distract himself from pain to blame Human A for being in pain. to assume that Human A blames Human B for … Continue reading A Concerned Monkey comments on the Human Game.
a weaver’s prayer
In a reality shaped out of instant gain We buy our garments ready made … Continue reading a weaver’s prayer
Believe the Beloved
This is a German Bible a friend found for me cheap at an estate sale. It was published in the 1800s in Chicago. Studying Luther’s translation of the Bible (circa 1522) I am struck by how words change their meaning over time, in German, and also in English. Language is a living thing. The word belief, (glauben in German) used to mean “beloved”. It was not about mind. It had nothing to do with facts or proof. It was about heart; connection and adoration. To believe in someone or something meant to give them your attention, to prioritize them, and … Continue reading Believe the Beloved
Fight Flight Freeze FAWN
Ever wonder why people often stop making sense when they are arguing? The answer is in our bodies, not our minds or souls. Arguing people are triggered; their bodies are in fight-or-flight. Remember that regardless of what you believe about morality or our immortal souls, our bodies themselves are still mammals. (If you doubt this truth, just try to mess with a mother’s child, and see what kind of Mama-Bear response you get!) In my decades of teaching, especially when it comes to de-escalating upset students, I have found it helpful to, for just a moment, set aside all my … Continue reading Fight Flight Freeze FAWN
I am a Dumpster Squirrel. Are you?
I am a Dumpster Squirrel. Are you? It’s not just the ADHD. I’m like squirrels in OTHER ways too. INTRIGUED?? READ ON FOR MORE JUICY NUGGETS! Wild Squirrels know what they are supposed to do. They build nests when it is time to. They gather fresh fruit when it’s time to. They bury nuts when it is time to. They leap across the forest canopy with great agility and grace. They know how to direct their attention for the best outcomes, so that their energy is used to increase chances survival for their offspring. City squirrels sometimes know what they … Continue reading I am a Dumpster Squirrel. Are you?
The Dam of Tears
Why did I cry so much about the damn dam while watching Frozen 2? It’s a kid’s movie about a woman who magically creates ice. ummm, ok, Shalay’s tears, whatever. Y’all, it’s also a movie about a community that hid the evil it employed to establish its wealth, and literally dammed the resources away from the people whose land was stolen. I cried when I saw the film because I had recently learned the history of the indigenous people who lived in my hometown, and the role that the dam played in the theft of their land. I, like Elsa, … Continue reading The Dam of Tears
A prayer for reason
Beauty disarms kindness does not own hope arrests love knows and un-knows go into mystery trust what you find life gets weird when reason’s left behind reason is great reason is fine but not if it’s built on foundations of lies. We must use human reason but remember its woes our reason slaps boundaries wherever it goes wherever it needs them to think it understands but the measures don’t exist except in our heads. human reason assumes a solid place to stand a true way to measure the lay of the land to weigh the importance of each measure’s facts … Continue reading A prayer for reason
Endgame
Angle up or angel down We don’t look side to side around We say we’re left Or that we are right We don’t see a foot in in front or behind We just look for endgame. Let us not rush through as if it’s all win or lose It’s not. If you want to win in the end, sorry, your greatest fear is true… it IS all “pointless.” There are no winners. No losers. We all go back to the same earth. The endgame is an illusion. Success is hollow if you’ve gutted people to get it. Success becomes an … Continue reading Endgame
For Dr. August DeBerdt, beloved Teacher.
My beloved professor passed away last July. August DeBerdt was born February 19, 1934. So in honor of his birthday, better late than never, I wanted to share some of what I learned from him. I attended Berry College in 1994. A small liberal arts college in the foothills of Georgia. It was difficult for me as a first generation college student. I was excited to learn. But I was scared to death. I wanted to hide my head from the horrors of the world. But I was also impossibly curious. I wanted to be a writer. So, rather against … Continue reading For Dr. August DeBerdt, beloved Teacher.
Whitewashed Tower
You live in your tower And earn your keep While we toil beneath you Waiting for sleep We knew you in old times When teeth were still white You told us to work for An end to the night You left us to slave here You left us behind You left us no warning You left us so blind You said you would help us You said that you cared You throw us a bone some And laugh when we’re scared We miss you we see you Up there all shining We love you we need you You have us … Continue reading Whitewashed Tower
an 80s poem for my brother
Once in a Lifetime By Shalay for Russ When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderfulA miracle, oh it was beautiful, magicalWe were moving in stereoWe were the pirate twins But then I was stunned and amazedMy childhood memoriesSlowly swirled pastLike the wind through the trees I had to watch what I say or they’ll be calling me a radicalLiberal, oh fanatical, criminal I ran Didn’t think I needed anything at all which of us is another brick in the wall? Hey you, out there in the coldGetting lonely, getting oldCan you feel me? You might think … Continue reading an 80s poem for my brother
a conversation with the wind
When in the realm of too-sentient things I hollered and flapped and broke both my wings I wailed and screamed and beat my breast The wind blew by And whispered, “Just rest.” I screamed to the wind that there was too much to do The wind agreed, that he was busy too. “Well, how can I rest, while I’m running this race? I never get ahead, a slave to serotonin, confined by time and space, You wouldn’t know! You just swirl around, as free as you please.” And then the wind made an amused little breeze. “Me? Where I want? … Continue reading a conversation with the wind
A Love Letter to People with ADHD or ADD
Dear Tribe, I am 44 and have had my diagnosis for three years. For most of my life I thought I was just nothing but a mess. Now that I know more about ADD and ADHD, I have other ideas. I have been teaching for 20 years. In that time I have gotten to know many, many kids and adults with ADHD or ADD. I love them all. Everyone’s brain is wired differently. The term ADHD is used as a catch-all for many different behaviors, the most common being “inability to focus on the thing you are supposed to be … Continue reading A Love Letter to People with ADHD or ADD
The Taxidermist's Youngest 