<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class="">Being Human</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder if the sun debates dawn<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">some mornings<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">not wanting to rise<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">out of bed<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">from under the down-feather horizon</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if the sky grows tired<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">of being everywhere at once<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">adapting to the mood<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">swings of the weather</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if clouds drift off<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">trying to hold themselves together<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">make deals with gravity<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to loiter a little longer</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder if rain is scared<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">of falling<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if it has trouble<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">letting go</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if snowflakes get sick<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">of being perfect all the time<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">each one<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">trying to be one-of-a-kind</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder if stars wish<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">upon themselves before they die<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if they need to teach their young<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">how to shine</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder if shadows long<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to just-for-once feel the sun<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if they get lost in the shuffle<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">not knowing where they’re from</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder if sunrise<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">and sunset<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">respect each other<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">even though they’ve never met</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if volcanoes get stressed<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if storms have regrets<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if compost believes in life<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">after death</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder if breath ever thinks of suicide<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if the wind just wants to sit<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">still sometimes<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">and watch the world pass by</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if smoke was born<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">knowing how to rise<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if rainbows get shy back stage<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">not sure if their colors match right</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder if lightning sets an alarm clock<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to know when to crack<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if rivers ever stop<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">and think of turning back</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if streams meet the wrong sea<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">and their whole lives run off-track<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I wonder if the snow<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">wants to be black</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if the soil thinks she’s too dark<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if butterflies want to cover up their marks<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if rocks are self-conscious of their weight<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if mountains are insecure of their strength</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder if waves get discouraged<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">crawling up the sand<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">only to be pulled back again<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to where they began</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if land feels stepped upon<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if sand feels insignificant<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if trees need to question their lovers<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">to know where they stand</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">if branches waver at the crossroads<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">unsure of which way to grow<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">if the leaves understand they’re replaceable<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">and still dance when the wind blows</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">I wonder<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">where the moon goes<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">when she is in hiding<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I want to find her there</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">and watch the ocean<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">spin from a distance<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">listen to her<br class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">stir in her sleep</p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial;">effort give way to existence</p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Naima Penniman</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></body></html>