Arising from deep pain,
Struggles etched into psyche,
Internalized oppression crushing
Innocence – hope – independence,
Self-relegated to subservience.
Awarded the opportunity to succeed,
Leveling of the playing field
Mandated by people who understand
It’s not balanced, lingering specter of
Institutionalized marginalization.
With a dismissive sneer,
Chooses to take the shackles of
His forefathers and clasp them
Back on innocent wrists, ankles,
Wounded and wounding.
Living a hardscrabble existence
Regardless of wealth,
Perceiving the world
As infinitely dangerous.
Nothing will change his mind,
A worldview burned into
His being, inseparable from
Self-image, identity.
Violence, darkness,
Gaping, weeping wounds,
Debilitating fear,
Disheartenment.
So, anyway…
I’ve had this weird pain
In my side for quite a while and
I asked my boss if I could
Go have it checked out.
He told me in no uncertain terms
That it was an inconvenience and
My pay would be docked.
I went to a doctor…
So much money for just
Sitting there waiting forever and
Only being seen for a couple minutes.
No coverage at work so
It comes out of my pocket,
Wonder if they’ll be mad at me
For missing a couple hours.
He used to effortlessly
Skewer them with irreverent,
Joyously witty, satiric commentary,
Bringing down the haves
With a single clever line,
Speaking truth to power.
At some point something changed.
Eyes dead, demeanor cold,
Disjointed, rambling, uncomfortable
Harangues against the vulnerable.
Selling his soul to fear,
Shilling for his new masters.
As always,
There’s no use arguing,
He’s not seeing
The issue from a
Rational perspective,
Mired in fear,
Listening skills limited
To non-existent
On the best day,
He hangs onto
Assorted fantasies
Because they prop up
His sense of himself.
Thank you for calling,
I can most certainly not
Assist you with that,
Nor do I have any
Inclination to do so.
We know that you have
Few to no other choices,
So we’re happy to
Provide you with careless,
Unhelpful service.
Again, I can’t do that,
It would require that
We care in any way for
Anything beyond separating
You from your money.
Dust accumulating,
Unperceived at first,
Difficult to clean
Once it’s past a
Certain point.
A gradual erosion of
The riverbank by
A changing current,
Carving away
Vital ground.
Change settles in,
Water warming to a boil,
Unwitting shift in attitude,
Things have always been
This way.
At an ordinary
Business meeting,
She finds herself in
An impromptu exchange
About an issue that
Deeply affects women,
Casually but passionately
Argued by a colleague
Who has made her views
Known on more than one
Previous occasion.
After listening for some time,
She shares that
She’s no feminist but
That she thinks women
Should be able to
Make decisions for themselves,
Unintentionally advocating for and
Limiting her own power,
An unconscious interplay between
Patriarchal, hierarchical
Upbringing – programming
On one shoulder,
Self-determination
On the other.
The struggles of those
Who came before her disregarded,
Inadvertent setback,
The conversation shifts.
He fancies himself
A fine person,
Upstanding member of
His community,
A family man of
Excellent moral character,
Responsible, productive,
A good friend to
Those who know him.
He stands on a
Dusty strip of land
In the glaring, hot sun,
Shouting angrily at
Frightened children,
Who know nothing else
But that they and their
Loved ones have
Nothing to eat.
The voices won’t
Leave him alone,
Abiding insecurity
Gnaws at his being.
It’s entirely possible
In his mind that someone
Will burst through the door
At any moment.
They’ll steal his things,
Desecrate his domain,
Leave him penniless,
Vulnerable, destitute.
It’s always that way
With freeloaders,
They take what they want
And hurt good people.
He vows to do everything
Possible so that those
Leeches don’t get anything
That’s rightfully his.