It’s only a matter of degree
Between the negation of contrary ideas
And the elimination of dissidents,
Crossing the line is far too easy
For those who crave only power
At the expense of humanity,
History dismally repeated
With nauseating frequency,
Brooding adolescents yearning
For prestige, authority,
Some feeling of importance
In a realm absent morality,
Where everything feeds
One impotent ego.
As if they had
Never thought of
Another person
For any reason,
They continued to
Do things that
Adversely affected
Others but that
At no time entered
Their consciousness
Given that the only
Modus operandi they
Understood was to
Purposelessly exist
From moment to moment,
Passing the time before
Reaching their
Expiration date,
Leaving behind
Absolutely nothing
Of any consequence.
Misery seeks its own level,
Infirm ghouls gather together
Celebrating their ghastliness,
Projecting onto others
What they know to be true
About themselves but
Desperately try to hide,
Hysterically lashing out at anyone
Who sees through the ruse,
Soused in fear,
Animate wounds
Perverting truth and decency
To avoid feeling the same pain
They’ve inflicted on others for so long.
They razed another
Section of the old town
To make way for the new
Towers that will house
People far better off
Than his family, which
Has lived there as long as
Anyone can remember.
Not a single question was
Asked or history considered,
An insatiable need for
Space imposes its will
On the former community of
Regular people working
Modest jobs to survive in
Their ancestral homes.
It was around the time of
Their divorce that he began
Taking an inordinate interest
In his children.
Where he had once been
Absent and aloof,
He now regarded the situation as
A quest for justice
In the face of immoral oppression,
His desires superseded by
Data, history, and common sense,
A jilted ex-spouse fuming at
Having his privilege revoked.
He founds an organization
Dedicated to supporting
His dubious cause.
Lihua, can you
Help me with this?
Now! I said.
What’s gotten into you
This morning?
So slow.
Today is mopping and
Cleaning day,
Get the supplies.
I’m meeting my
Friends for lunch,
I’ll be back at 3:00.
I want everything
To be perfect,
Don’t make me look bad.
I wish I could cast
You aside like something
That doesn’t matter
Anymore, that’s used up,
Served its purpose,
No longer needed,
But you keep hanging on,
Showing up when I least
Or most expect it,
Reminding me of things
I’d rather forget,
Leaving me no choice
But to fall into
Your familiar arms,
Pervasive past,
Present stifled.
Those cherished moments
Stalking a living creature
To assert flagging manhood,
An obscuring cloud of
Euphemisms shared to
Justify cold-hearted killing.
No one will dare impugn
Our masculinity now that
We’re proving how virile we are
Carrying these metal members
And pretending it’s about
Camaraderie and enjoying nature,
Not senseless violence to
Avoid appearing feminine.
A condescending
Pat on the head
Is all he gets
For standing up for
Those who have nothing
And a system that
Routinely denies
Basic opportunity.
It’s just the way it is,
Platitudes regurgitated by
People who can’t envision
A world where
We take care of
One another and
Compassion is the norm.
Ignoring ignorance
And indifference,
Always moving forward
Toward a brighter day.
