dance and romp
struggle and scream
kick and punch
Persist. Resist. Insist. Consist
of and within your
own sweet and glorious dragon Self.

Kick at the stones and
split the sky into
one thousand shards of colour
bellow in rage
fight
spin
sing.

Or don’t.

Just rest and relax or do
whatever
it is your own unchained soul wants.
It IS your life. Live it by your rules.

This poet stands with you and your choices.

Dan Trabue is a lover of nature and his family. He has been and continues to be a wood-worker, map-maker, teacher, job coach, poet, artist, photographer, and a musician.

Endangered Species Series

“Red Panda,” Selah Both, 7 Red pandas have to eat 20 to 30 percent of their body weight in bamboo.

This article first appeared in Geez magazine Issue 69, Summer 2023, The Children Will Prophesy .