with intention

today I rise 

leave my bed, 
change my clothes, 
brush my teeth—all 
actions I could not take 
just days ago 
when my heart pumped lead 
and I slept 
in honey 

today I rise 

to a flood 
of the inconceivable—
a disinformation loop, 
an unreality 
of planes crashing, 
of lies splashing across every screen 
while mental children grub for money 
from their mothers’ purses 

today I rise 

with intention 
if not strength, 
with love and anger 
if not hope, 
believing 
every action matters, 
knowing 
there is no act too small 

today 
and every day 
I rise 
I rise 
I rise 

by Gale Naylor

Alexandrai Ocasio-Cortez “Every day our job is to wake up and say ‘what can I do today.’ — There is no act too small. Every action matters.” https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3lileeeuuac2w

Mike Davis “love and anger” https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2022-07-25/mike-davis-reflects-on-life-activism-climate-change-bernie-sanders-aoc-los-angeles-politics