by Juley Harvey

truth needs

a nanny;

we must be

its constant

caretaker,

guardian,

these days,

speak persistently,

and carefully, wisely,

hold the lamp high,

never quiet down

or shut up.

be reverend,

never end.

truth is

the last bastion

and the truth is

hot, hard, and scary.

but the untruth

is mega-worse,

the end.

the curse of the dark side

descends; is too easy.

let the light

breathe, be!

About the Author

Juley Harvey is a former journalist (California, Colorado) and prize-winning poet. She was a recent featured poet at the TallGrass Writers Guild Virtual Open Mic from Chicago via Zoom. Her work has appeared in more than 45 publications, including 9 of the black-and-white series of TallGrass Writers, edited by Whitney Scott. Recently, she joined TallGrass Writers board of directors. She lives near Rocky Mountain National Park and is a member of the Writers on the Brink writer’s group in Estes Park, led by published award-winning Western author Kevin Wolf. She is delighted to be a part of the art heart community.

About the Artist

Self-identifying as a neurodivergent, two-spirit, elder storyteller and contrarian deeply rooted in the roar and lore that’s become Portlandia of The Left Coast, Lindsey Morrison Grant attributes success and survival to superlative supports, mindfulness practice, and daily creative expression in words, sounds and images. Currently, their visual works are represented by The Siy Gallery of San Francisco.