no victim you

I’m thinking about you tonight Ms. Radcliffe                                      
and I know that finally in despair
that you have begun to realize that
even in the luxury of The Hamptons
not all hot tubs are created equal
and that $200 lunches are sometimes hard to swallow

I’m thinking about you tonight Ms. Radcliffe
and I know that no matter where you are
that you are in a position of power
even on your knees
evoking the name of Lester Young
or blowing
insane
mad
full-throttle bop saxophone
-I know that you are in charge!

if in fact you don’t respond
to my salutations or my invitations
that is your statement of independence & autonomy

slammed & fragmented
by the violent tides of transformation
the tides that threaten us all
the same tides of transformation that when they crest
will wash us clean

and cleanliness-it rates right up there with all the highly evolved states
of being
of waking
of feeling
of diving off into the ancient,purifying,sanctifying fires
of redemption & bliss

I’m thinking about you tonight,Ms. Radcliffe