HP Rivers

  • Instructions

    Sitting on our dining room floor Assembling a cheap dresser With inadequate instructions You laugh and say, “Babe, I’m not doing feelings right now – I’m doing power tools.” I think, “I want to remember this moment When I am dying.” Because I have never been more in love Than I am here, in this…

    HP Rivers

  • Shiloh the Sea Pancake – A Time for All Ages

    Hi friends! My name is Helen. The kiddos here at UUCT call me Mx. Helen, and my pronouns are they/them/theirs. Learning someone’s pronouns and how they identify is so important, it’s just like learning their name! Just ask my friend Shiloh. Shiloh is a Sea Pancake. What’s that? You think Shiloh looks like a Stingray?…

    HP Rivers

  • Midway

    Alternate Title: Leave Room for Jesus 2005 At the Midway Middle School Spring FormalPre-pubescent girls wear white t-shirtsUnder their sparkly dresses –Their preachers,And their mothers,Afraid that someone might think them immodest. The bus driverPulls over to yell and prayEvery time someone says, “goddamn” –And scolds meFor sitting next to a high school boy. I do…

    HP Rivers

  • Shamxn

    Come listen to the big drumsThe heartbeatsOf the cosmos, praying you to liveWeary as you might be. Dear one,This healing is your heartbeatThe prayers you bless the world with,Bless yourself in the process. There are no ancestors cheering for you. Rather, they weepTears of wisdom,Knowledge of the path to comeFor they have walked it too,But…

    HP Rivers

  • Love/Godde and Karen

    There is a part of me that is untouchable by the happenings of this realm. This is the part that healed my human form of addiction by the power of community, of an eating disorder by shamanism and energy work, that exists at the vibration of my highest good at all times. This is the…

    HP Rivers

  • Sure

    I spent six months Writing love poems About my best friend And I’m still not sure If I’m actually gay. So long Cringing at every “miss” and “ma’am” But obviously I’m just pretending To have no gender – No binary to rest in. I don’t think It’s actually doubt. I think it is the body’s…

    HP Rivers

  • Gay Street

    We’re standing on Gay Street Under your huge rainbow umbrella On our very first absolutely-not-a-date The very first time I realize We are absolutely Not getting out of here the same. The lavender latte I had that night Tasted like soap. It was not good. But I would probably smile Through a mug of actual…

    HP Rivers