Zaida

she can’t help it
but she takes on the world’s problems
as if they were her own
she’s a den mother
a source of constant compassion
and a little bit avenging angel
if there’s a strike to call
she’ll call it
if there’s an inequity to right
she’ll right it
if there’s a better way to do something
she’ll suggest it
she’ll talk about quitting her boyfriend
while she tells you all the reasons she shouldn’t
including the fact that he has exams that week
then in the same breath tell you how annoying Ishmael is
and yet wonders what it would be like
to try to change him
she’d save the world if she could
and she might
for wherever she goes
people will at least know she passed by
spewing philosophy and love in one breath
and breathing everywhere at once