“My brother has not spoken to me in years. Something to do with Donald Trump or Jesus Christ or our horrible stepfather.”

When I reached for what I wanted, they said I left my needs behind. But if all birds need is on the ground why then do they fly?

Oh the salt water I had to sweat to realize there was an ocean inside of me.

I found my old diary tonight. A brokenness I had forgotten pen pressured so deep it punctured page. I ran my fingers over my words and there inside ridges black I found a little girl desperate for someone to save her, desperate for the very woman I have become.

This morning I tell the kindest man on earth after two dates, you are good and you are not my man. My man is not as good as you.

I know this won’t always be a good deal for me I make it anyway.

Don’t get too used to being alone.

I want to be in an Jane Austen novel with you.

God is a woman and like every woman has millions of years of men speaking for her.

I keep saying over and over. I’m sorry but I have to go now you are not my person.

I play with the nativity and tell mary she looks good in that color blue.

The day my children move out is years I can count on two hands I have them half this time years I count on one.

I took the bobblehead of him off his refrigerator and kissed it.

Go fuck yourself.

Beautiful creature its time to forgive yourself you were surviving.

Everything great I’ve done I did not think to do so.

I will not believe It’s less holy to be human. I will not bow my head. I will not close my eyes to god.

Bro Snow said I would live to see the time when brothers and sisters would marry each other in this church.

Millions of tears have fallen for black sons, brothers, lovers, and friends whose assailants took or maimed their lives and then simply went on their way.

Quote words that affirm all men and women are your brothers and sisters.

What more civilized way for people to alleviate the same than by giving themselves to one another as brothers and sisters in deed as well as in word?

As life in general constituted much pain in the form of struggles against poverty, disease, ignorance, and emotional anguish,

Well, my brother started acting before I did.

In beloved Iraq, blood is flowing between brothers, in the shadow of an illegitimate foreign occupation, and abhorrent sectarianism threatens a civil war.

I had begun to think that dreams are meant to be no more than dreams and that in reality dreams don’t come true. Then my brother (Zac) left on his trip.