May 06-A, 2023

The black trunks in the image
are the trees' attempt to heal themselves
where elk have peeled away and eaten bark
in the winter months. 

Both trees and elk are doing their best
with what they have to work with
to make things work
as well as they can. 

You and I are right in there
with the trees and elk,
doing our best to make things work
as well as they can.

We all would do better
with better choices,
better options,
and we are all limited 
to the choices/options
available to us.

Living/working/voting
to make a wider range
of choices/options 
available to all people
is incumbent upon us all.

This includes abortion rights
and LGBTQ rights,
civil rights,
human rights
throughout the country and the world.

Those who know best and must be pleased
haven't ever known being refused necessities
on any level.
Privilege is that way.
The underprivileged bear burdens
privilege would unable to manage.

Laws restricting choices
and forcing unbearable burdens
are not what we must be about
as human beings serving humanity.

Living to gain the approval
of those in authority
is lap dog mentality,
and we all deserve better than that
in the politicians elected
to serve all the people.

May we all live long enough
to elect politicians
who do that very thing!

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