Marketing Yourself

As welcome as the telemarketer’s call
as fun as a slap in the face
more eagerly anticipated than
a door-to-door peddler
is your offer when I didn’t ask

My mirror isn’t broken
and while this may come as a shock
I don’t secretly want to be like you
or make you more like me

I’m happy with who I am
and accept who you are

Perhaps it’s time
to love yourself enough
to give up the need
to make me over
into another version
of you



Picture: sourced online

Heirloom Courage

She leans against the black granite counter
over white cupboards garbed in black sweats
under white t-shirt, head still covered from running
in face-slicing cold that frostbites fingertips

A twin to the girl with a pearl earring
she waits with sunset on her face for quinoa in the cooker
pours out her soul, a milk white strand of pearls
scattering across the hardwood

I recover the pearls, store them safe
in my heart shaped listening room
receive with awe the gift offered
try not to be swine