taking care of U.S.

when my young son’s
vomit coated the floor
I did not put him down
I held on because he
was unable to stop
trying to escape the
misery he felt his little
slippery body as I held
him more tightly to
comfort him to shower
him with love even as
my own body reeked
with the fug of having
not showered for days

I could do all of that
with grace and love
in my disheveled
sleep deprived state
and I would do it
again but this holding
onto the country as
it screams trying to
contain itself amidst
the invasion of evil in
its body is wearing me
down but I will continue
to hold on tightly and I
will not let myself let go

Cinse Bonino
2025