A tiny,
Fragile raft
Floating in
A vast ocean,
All of us on it.
They visit me at
Odd moments, remnants
Of a past existence I
Can barely relate to.
Strange reminders of
The same person
Separated only by
Time and experience.
They arrive
Unannounced and overstay
Their welcome, reviving
Memories best left forgotten.
Closing the door
Behind me, I bid them
A good day and
Go for a walk.
Too many times.
This one was the last.
How do I know?
I’m different now
And they’re the same,
Change not in
Their vocabulary.
Misdirected rage,
Flawed grave reasoning,
Flailing against imaginary
Monsters under beds.
A shift in perspective,
Assumptions upturned,
Unfamiliar changes underway,
Movement misunderstood.
An urge to maintain order,
Preserve pervasive power,
Vehemently opposing kindness,
Collective advancement.
Although no one can tell
From the outside,
There are many seemingly
Insignificant events that
Send him into paroxysms
Of discomfort and anxiety,
His mind overwhelmed by
Intrusions he has no choice
But to endure, disproportionate
Reactions to abstractions,
A tight smile the only hint of
The incessant turmoil within.
They understand the
Galvanizing power of
Perceived peril and
Are more than happy
To invoke the existential
Threat of the day to
Keep people in a heightened
State of alert, unable to
Think about anything but
The imminent danger they
Face as their pockets
Are expertly picked.
He’s lauded as an
Intellectual giant,
Someone who changed
The course of history,
Who left his imprint on
The fabric of the nation,
Who set a course of
Wisdom and conviction,
Except if you’re one
Of the people he hated
For no other reason than
Insecurity or prejudice,
And who suffered because of
His magnificent decisions.
It was clear
He tried his best
But, as usual,
It just wasn’t enough,
It never was,
Which brings us
To today.
He remembers vividly
The moment he realized
That all they cared
About was themselves
And all they really did
In life was exist from
Day to day, desperately
Trying to avoid the
Hurts from their past
And oozing their pain onto
Anyone in the vicinity.
