I am a Proponent (poem)

 

of winter walks in the woods alone but for dogs
of picking up litter others have left behind
of identifying trees by their bark
of dressing in layers and not wearing a bra
of purebreds and mutts and feeding stray cats
of safe, happy childhoods, and playing outside
of forgiving your brother no matter what he or you did
of the current Pope Francis, even though I’m not Catholic
of not giving up even when you’ve been beaten
of euthanasia as the last gift of love
of laughing, and living, and loving out loud
but most of all, my dear friend,
I am a proponent of you