A Basic Lesson in Anatomy

Most days, I am still a human being

Complete with a growing body

A growing mind

And two left feet

Most days, if feels like a good fit

I have learned to use these legs

To take purposeful steps,

Long and leading

Sometimes, I fall flat on my face with flair

For me, to be human is to be clumsy

But it also learning how to make peace

Walking down the street

I count the pairs of eyes that turn to meet mine

And see that they are few and far between

To be human is to be afraid of other humans

And that reality has never sat well in my stomach,

It aches anvils in the bottom of my belly

Bends bright light into muted hues

Happiness is reaching

But my arms are long limbs

And growing all the time

At the ends are these hands;

Meant to hammer or to hold

Being human begs a balance

But the scale tips too often 

And our fingers close to clench

Letting go is never easy

But I have learned that breaking

Never brings resolution

Too many humans have never learned that truth

They don’t see that no one’s temple was built to conquer

Anger is a heavy load that no back was meant to bear

And that an empty hand was made for waving

But when holding a gun, it gains new meaning

And bullets weren’t forged to give good greetings

Our bodies were never built to be bombs.

And they would know that if they listened 

To their own hearts just beating,

More times in a single day than all the hateful words 

I could ever think to say. 

And I admit my own mind wasn’t created 

To comprehend codes or complex mathematics

But I am blessed with an understanding of basic equations:

One ear plus one ear means that I should always be listening

Add 28 teeth, a tongue plus a voice and there is never a reason for me

Not to say how I’m feeling

Two lips plus two lips

Sometimes equals a kiss

And when it doesn’t, 

X amount of sadness plus

Y number of friends means no one ever has to truly be alone

Being human can be beautiful if you don’t let it break you.

Even when it does

Most days I am human 

But there are mornings I wake up 

Feeling like so much less

On the days when my genetics take the turn to depression

And simple mathematics feels too complex to comprehend, 

Even on these days, I can defer 

To the most basic lesson in anatomy;

Our bodies are not accidents

We have been put together perfectly 

To perpetuate existence peacefully as possible

And all the pieces have already fallen into place

All that is left

Is to live.

William Stanford