A Poet's Pain
When I received my high school directory I listed myself as
a poet
At the time I considered my selection better than unemployed
or mentally ill
I always hurt it just took a long time to realize my inner
agony was abnormal
That the abuse, teasing, mockery, bullying wasn't universal
Now I seek to liberate the world from every single force of
oppression
I have learned reality and have digested the brutal lesson
So I write poetry hoping to inspire
That somehow in a spiritual way to ignite a wholesome fire
That among the world there should be an ambiguous equality
That the culture of 'third world' nations is perhaps more
valid than our own
From selfish rebels to world exploiters so this nation has
grown
I take no pride in Native American genocide
Go to the source any force of evil must be denied
And in the process rip to shreds the smug arrogant pride
That self aggrandizing declaration that this nation can
military intervene
Wherever, whenever and against any enemy its foggy eyes have
seen
It is not okay to spend trillions to kill in aggressive war
While billions suffer from hunger and people are poverty
stricken poor
I have meandered of off the straight and narrow far from my
rhymes
I focus on meaning, obvious as a June moon bellowing with
sacred chimes
There is a righteousness and war is one of man's foulest
crimes
Yet in easy contentment society is placated into a deceitful
lull
It's not my kids going to die; besides such things are out
of my control
I believe in the masses, I believe in the power of Love, I
believe in the example
I have fought the system claw and fang though I am presently
obscure
When motivated millions make many moves the impact is sure
I throw my withered scarecrow frame across the gears of the
machine
For the demagogues are blaspheming in heated rhetoric of
hatred most obscene
With blood and oil they grease the slashing juggernaut
Killing you dirty or killing you clean do you know what I mean?
And in the midst of the red, red rain
A cry asking why so many innocents must perish and die
I observe the cruelty in society how lives are flawed, empty
and vain
From deep within wickeder than the worst sin is a poet's
pain
For I have no power to make a change but rather to simply
explain
So I write and fight in words that shimmer and glimmer in
delight
For with hope I think about the slim chance that I just
might
Inspire an entire generation to be conscious of the world's
ways
That the government is not our masters and only our ideals
should we praise
All in all leading the call so that we may arrive
collectively at better days
While that dark choice seeks to silence my voice quoting
'you are insane'
A poet's pain
POLISHED FRAGMENTS
