XVII THE STAR   In the light of the eight-pointed star, two deer drink from a shallow pool. One is dead, his antlers entwined with those of his killer. The victor remains strong, his future yet unwritten. In each moment of his victory, however, he must stare into the eyes of the past, and hisRead more

XV THE DEVIL   Creeping slowly down the street in his police cruiser, the devil wears blue. In his sights is a young man of color, for whom every walk home holds the threat of harassment, of oppression by the violent hand of the racist state, of the loss of his life at the handRead more

XIV HARM REDUCTION   In the moments after an unintentional overdose, two companions embrace, the spent vile of naloxone on the coffee table.There is no judgement nor anger, only understanding. There was always a risk this could happen, but safety measures were put in place with trust and compassion.  The loss of a life hasRead more

XIII DEATH   Death revisits a street corner in the rain, where he recently met a man at the end of his life. A screech of car tires, and it was over. The man is gone now, but his ghost bike remains.It is painted a ghastly white and adorned with flowers whose colors Death enjoys.Read more

Justice strides forward,not blind, but with eyes knowing and unafraid. She pays no attention to the crowds of capitalists, racists, of misogynists that line her path. Hers is a difficult journey, but she does not walk alone. With her right hand she grasps the hand of another, and she the next, in an unending lineRead more

X- THE WHEEL   Every day the spider weaves her web, making her graceful turns around and around. Some days the web is beautiful, complex and deadly as a weapon to catch her prey. Other days, it is disorganized, her threads pulling free from their moorings despite her hard work. Still, she weaves, day inRead more

IX THE HERMIT   The rains have come and gone, but like the flood waters, the hermit remains. He has seen his share of storms, and he is wise to the rhythms of life on the Mississippi floodplain. This is not the first time he has weathered a storm alone, and it will not beRead more

VIII STRENGTH   Standing at the kitchen sink, a transgender woman of color is cleaning her dishes. This is her house and she has made it her cozy sanctuary. These are her dishes, and she cleans them for herself. She is well aware of the hatred outside her window, the flood of bigotry that neverRead more

VII THE CHARIOT   A pick up truck can take you anywhere you heart desires, and the determination to go there often has its sweet rewards. The watermelon is traditionally a symbol of work and desire, and the chariot is, unironically, all about drive. You are going to get things done if you can stayRead more