Totem Poem by Kevin Fisher-paulson

Believe the totem.
Embrace the wisdom of the
mother deer staring at you
chewing on grass
guarding her does.

Believe the totem.
When twin pennies rain down
into your son’s mahogany hand
tell yourself
Nurse Vivian must be proud.

Believe the totem.
Take every chance you get to dance
on top
of pyramids;
to jump into the wide curving sky with only
a scrap of silk to slow you down.
If you leap, the net will appear.

All good steps lead upward.