Dearest Readers,

Today I will be performing at Arts in the Park here in our fair city and I’d like to share with you the piece I’m going to present.

It’s a spoken-word number called I’m Alive and it was one of the first authentic performances I gave back when I was walking through stage fright at the beginning of my professional career.

Here it is:

I’ve scaled a mountain clinging fingers to wet rock wind howling threatening to blow me off the side / end me up like the sheep fallen down below / ribs splayed open bleached by the sun / petrified organs and hide now leather/  long white hair blowing in the breeze…

I’m alive.

I’ve been hit by a car on my bike SMACK POW didn’t see it coming in the night / bright headlights / BANG I’m in the air / SLAM I’m on the hood / THUD I’m on the ground…

I’m alive.

I’ve been taken by a stranger held in his clutches / his dirty hands and dirty things he did to me / RUN / so I ran / he let me go…

I’m alive.

I’ve met bears — I said bears — that’s with an ‘s’, kid / walking down a logging road / five grizzly bears, kid / one breaks away / comes down the ditch / up the ditch / to face me down back me up / I backed up / our spirits touched / eye to eye…

I’m alive.

I’ve jumped out of a plane / 2800 feet / falling flying with the wind in my ears / peace beauty ’til I landed exactly NOT like they’d spent the 8 hours teaching me how to / OMG / both my legs are broken / but they weren’t…

I’m alive.

I’ve been trapped in a hole / 3 years old told, “Don’t go down that hole!” / climbed down / got stuck / fire engines / po-lice / traumatized parents

I’m alive.

I’ve taken drugs laced with rat poison / bleach / bought off the streets / WHY?

I’m alive.

I’ve been in car accidents / planes that nearly crashed / relationships with violent men / UGH

I’m alive.

I was born / I was given this gift / this life overwhelming / this blessing / this hope

I’m alive.

The contents of our wallet / the size of our house / the cost of our car / these things / do not make us / who we are / we’re rich without a penny

We’re alive.

We’ve got blood coursing through our veins / pumping muscles and a heart working hard

We’re alive

We got lungs / cleansing breath / is the Life Force Giver / we receive

We’re alive

You’re alive

I’m alive.

Inspiring Message of the Day: It is so easy to forget that I am alive today. I will do my best not to take this Immense Gift for granted. I will rejoice in my aliveness!