Nothin' Left to Lose

Erik Erikson places me squarely

In the eighth and final phase

Of psychosocial development

My rapidly approaching death

Has provided myriad opportunities

For growth and reflection

I embrace my role as Crone

Seeking to pass on my accumulated wisdom

To anyone who cares to listen

Though many do not and seek to shut me up

Let them try I say, let them try

In this time of dramatic unrest

I am perfectly positioned

To claim my power and speak my truth

Rejecting fear and calling bullshit

When I see and hear it

I will not go quietly

Nor turn away from good trouble

I intend to leave it all on the field

Facing the end with integrity

Cause I’ve got nothin’ left to lose

                             Deborah Kellogg Lewis 3/7/2025

 With apologies to Dylan Thomas, John Lewis and Janis Joplin