I wrote you 250 words
about what I want to do
when three words would have sufficed:
poetry and philosophy

But it is more than these three words
let’s break it down to three more
philosophy: Eastern and Western
the first neglected in a coup of conscience
the second seen as a bunch of nonsense
by a generation that has heard
nothing but STEM

But it is more than these three words
let’s break it down to three more
poetry and philosophy: heart and mind
their separation
has made generations
chronically ignorant of self and other
their separation
is the reason for the exploration
of these distasteful politicians
the rise of hopelessness
and homelessness
drug addiction
and the contradiction
of the values we claim
the rejection of Syrian refugees
and the taking of black lives by deputies
our pervasive bigotry
and sinister corporate trickery

maybe things aren’t that simple
and that’s the point
things are not
eastern vs. western
heart vs. mind
me vs. you
right vs. wrong
there is a unity that can be found
a balance that can astound
and we can flourish
if we learn how to nourish
ours souls

I don’t claim to know the answer
but what I have is better than this cancer
and I bet you it’s somewhere
in these three words:
poetry and philosophy

Now school is expensive
and these studies extensive
so I am asking for some financial assistance
to help end the distance
between these three words:
poetry and philosophy.