Bernie Slutsky

  I gaze at the wonder and the pain in their eyes I hear and feel a desperate struggle to stay alive in the sound of their voices The stories of    families who are displaced into the cellars of society Who have been thrown down like a doormat to be stepped on by those who feel entitled Who I've ignored, not seen, passed over and dismissed Even though I swore to myself I wasn't that type  Even though my job was to help those in need Even though my reputation was the tender, vulnerable, male therapist who is compassionate Even though I was known as the one to teach men about being open Even though I protested, marched with, and gave credence to the antiracist movement Even though I campaigned and voted for progressive candidates Even though I pledged allegiance to the social, criminal and climate justice movements Even though I grew up in New York City and saw and felt inside myself, the pain, joy and everyday life experiences of people whose skin is darker than mine ...

  How am I supposed to like the politician who intentionally tries to suppress the votes of the people? How am I supposed to like the people who vote for those politicians? How am I supposed to like the senators and representatives who pass legislation that is racist and fascist? How do I even try to like the people who elect such an element to our government? How do I accept those that spread false narratives about the pandemic, the vaccines, facts related to the welfare of the people and about the environment? How do I accept people who listen to that and keep voting for those who push falsehoods into positions of power? How am I supposed to like those who turn their backs on the suffering of people all around them? How am I supposed to look in the eyes of people that feed the system that runs off of oppression and not feel resentment? How am I supposed to have compassion for those who either knowingly or blindly choose to support systemic wide injustice? How do I even try to lik...

 The expansive sky above was painted baby blue, releasing rays from the mid-afternoon sun that warmed the chilling eighteen-degree day This vibrant canopy looked over me as I ran along the puddled, sloshy asphalt streets from newly melted snow It is early March and winter is slowly retreating making way for spring My body absorbs the energy of this new day This particular moment is lazy, quiet but vibrant And I need to run My legs are longing to propel forward To push off the pavement I absorb into the winter landscape that is about to transform To make space for new growth and blossoming life of the new season in waiting As I feel my body work, a sense of wonder comes over me How this planet cycles in and out of darkness, light, hot and cold Where leaves fall, nests are built, flowers bloom and eggs hatch Pleasure, pain, birth and death are components of the earth's existence Experiencing loss and grief with mother earth allows us to appreciate life to the fullest I delight in the...

You cheer with a sarcastic edge You laugh and jump for joy You hail the hatred and vile rhetoric These past four years you have become more vocal, overt and methodical with your racist taunts and acts of violence and intimidation You deny the truth, shoot out lies and place vitriol on a pedestal You follow the twisted, repulsive and hollow words of a man that doesn't even care about you You probably don't realize that You just want to belong somewhere You feel forgotten-not important-left behind You are angry that the "elite" has no respect for you They are your enemy and are taking away your freedom You need to belong and be part of something bigger than you It is exhilarating and your endorphins pump through your body When you join with others who are seeking to fill their empty souls through  degrading those who you blame for your insecurity You believe the most outrageous-delusional fabrications of reality that could ever be imagined You gather together and stoke ...

  The uneasiness swims through my veins and arteries My legs are desperate to rise and take off like a rocket This body of flesh and bones is on alert It is telling me to beware and be ready My brain is sending out the danger signal I lie awake waiting for the next message to tell me what to do I create scenarios in the hyper aroused mind how I heroically save the day This is how I get stirred up  The dramatic attack by American citizens on the freedom of myself, neighbors and others, has me gasping I felt betrayed after the 2016 election at how anyone could vote for a fascist And now here are those same people who are rebelling, revolting, rioting against who and what I voted for in the past election This is an active assault on my soul When a bigoted, unruly, unreasonable and deluded mob overthrows a government building When the entire nation holds its collective breath to wait until an inauguration concludes without disruption from its own people My mind and body tell me we...

 I found my breath today It brought me stillness I found the beat in my heart It brought me rhythm I closed my eyes It brought me peace I let go of my thoughts It brought me silence I stared down my fear It brought me acceptance I let my anger melt inside my chest It brought me comfort I laughed at my shame It brought me freedom I forgave myself for falling short It brought me a new day I accepted there are those around me who I don't agree with It brought me clarity I realized all the social ills of our society won't get fixed in my lifetime It brought me lightness and flexibility I allowed myself to feel the weight of my hate It brought me to the quietness of my soul Then I felt the tenderness of the love inside of me And I rested

  It is grey, damp, cold and I'm walking on a trail around Wirth Lake Princey, my adorable black, furry companion, is sniffing the terrain Enjoying the adventure  Having no worries Joyously trotting from one spot to another As I am gazing at the bare trees and grey sky I am struck by a jolt of anger They voted for him Not because they are working class people who feel screwed Plenty of working class people didn't vote for him They chose him because they bow down to White power They laugh, cheer for him, and they catcall anyone that challenges their bigoted and racist universe They feel strong and intoxicated  They feel they are finally somebody and belong to something They are loyal, and dedicated and will sacrifice their bodies and souls to be in this club Because they drank the potion of White power  And it tastes victorious They are on the precipice of the highest peak Everyone else is below them And their job is to keep outsiders down  By stepping on their n...