Why the decision was made
Is beyond his understanding,
Only able to see
What he presently knows,
Not realizing that
There are things
He does not yet grasp
That affect determinations
Made regarding what he does,
Not because of malice,
Personal whim, or caprice,
But rather something else
He will, hopefully,
One day comprehend.
A dismissive
Defensive rebuttal
Followed by a list of
Inadequate reasons,
Justifications,
Rationalizations.
Outright denial of
Advantage based on
Outward appearance,
A system designed to
Favor certain people
While crushing others.
They want all the benefits
But don’t want to share them,
Especially with the brown
People they sneer at when
In the safety of their own
Enclaves, surrounded by members
Of their exclusionary clans.
None of this is new,
People like this have always
Reveled in power and dominance,
Accustomed to reaping all
The rewards while depriving
Others of basic necessities,
And pretending to be victims
When outed for what they are.
Looking through the window
He sees only war, perceiving
Everything as a battle,
As something to be won,
An adversary to be exterminated.
“When something bad is
Lurking around every corner,
Ready to attack you,
You have to hit first,”
He mutters automatically.
The world viewed as a dangerous place,
Where everyone is an enemy
Who must be engaged with violence,
Internal turmoil played out in public,
Only one direction to go in.
He hopes to himself
That he can one day
Transcend this drab world
Of daily gatherings at the
Same old bar with
The same friends talking
About the same exploits
From high school,
Angry at never having
Left this town to enjoy
New vistas,
Closing hearts and minds
Railing against
Anyone who doesn’t
Share their misery.
It’s a symbol of
Our history which,
Although we don’t
Say it out loud,
Is really based on
Fighting for the right
To enslave human beings
To make more money,
A fair arrangement,
In our dead hearts.
A door opens on a
Narrow lane in a small
Hillside town forgotten
By time. She steps out
Into the familiar mix
Of shadow and light
Playing off stone.
A neighbor walks by,
The perfunctory hello.
Once in a while she sees
A tourist or two, adventurous
Sorts who journey to isolated
Places for an authentic experience.
She wishes she could tell
Them what her life is like,
Ask them to take her with them.
