Truth

We die slowly every day,

we juggle our days,

spinning hours away,

moments of epiphany,

moments of despair,

on autopilot.

Hours laced with routine

and responsibilities,

while we bury our desires.

Dentist appointments,

grocery shopping,

playdates.

I hunt for a tomato,

I smell one and then another,

until I smell the sweet scent.

I close my eyes and wonder.

We juggle while we wish to save the world,

save the dolphins,

save the oceans,

save ourselves.

We die a little more,

holes in our hearts,

emptiness we cannot fill,

band aids to social issues we can't solve.

We strive to save the world,

while we die a little more.

The game room at the pediatric dentist office

diverts the children with electronic games.

Mothers on their iPhone,

distracted while paying one hundred sixty dollars

for teeth cleaning,

while five miles away there are

children that come to school with empty bellies.

Hungry for the free lunch that will sustain them

for another day.

We die a little everyday.