It takes a great deal of
Cowardice to hate another
Human being, vulnerability
And love being far better
Measures of courage, a
Certainty discovered late,
If at all, by so many
People who live in fear.
Apparently, all I was worth was
One phone call in the last
I don’t know how many years.
You told me how important I was.
Words come and go, floating by in
Teeming or sparse configurations.
Alluding, promising, seducing,
Unconvincing me.
Faded, creased picture in my mind.
I try to recall what you look like;
A mocking expression, a snide smile,
My worth rushes into focus.
Spewing from his mouth,
A most foul string
Of words, assembled and
Projected with vitriol
At the object of his hatred.
Exposed as a frothing bigot,
He goes into standard
Damage control mode,
Insisting he’s not like that,
That he respects all people.
Things progress as expected,
He minimizes his misconduct
And begins whining about how
He and his family have become
Targets of negativity.
You can’t possibly hear me when
You’re talking, every rebuttal a
Blow to cordiality, each defensive
Twitch eroding trust, weakening
Compassion. I realize you know
Everything and those who bear this
Gift have a crucial responsibility to
Ceaselessly share their thoughts,
Bury all others in the avalanche.
We all sit at
The dinner table,
Silently eating
What mother has made,
Talking only
When father decides
It’s appropriate,
And then only about
The approved topics.
Hierarchical,
Authoritarian
Narrative.
Bowing to the master,
Waiting for the
Next instructions to
Allay our discomfort.
They always
Know better.
How easy it is
To sit in overstuffed chairs,
Impugning the character
Of people who have no power,
Live on the fringes of society,
Toil in menial jobs while
Making life easier for
Their assailants.
Subsisting in the shadows,
Unseen by most,
Routinely disparaged but
Whose fruits are consumed
Without reservation.
No effort required
To kick the defenseless.
Little by little, one by one,
He lost most of his friends, family,
Acquaintances, associates, and
Countless others who called him
Friend, son, brother, colleague,
Companion, kindred spirit.
The rain fell in a grey monotone.
He stared out the window at the
Heavy pines. Opening the sash,
He took in the fresh, wild, charged
Atmosphere that filled his lungs
And mingled with his joy.
He scurries around
His disordered lair,
Planning his next
Move, the one that
Will undoubtedly put
Him in the position of
Most supremacy over
The largest number of
People. Finally,
Complete dominion.
On the outside, people
Say what they always
Have said about him.
A cluster of cubicles girdling
Many dreams. Methodical, mechanical,
Ordered, contained, managed
Minds focused on the completion of
Dire duties, sublimated creativity.
A voyage, perhaps to some beautiful
Destination unblemished by rules or rigidity.
Potential unfettered, possibilities
Countless. Roam wherever, whenever,
Destination unconsidered, inconsequential.
