"Basically Almost Definitely Not Enough Times," "Steer Us Adrift" and "A Chance Encounter"

Basically Almost Definitely Not Enough Times

You want it to be one way, but it’s the other way

                                              -  Marlo “Black” Stanfiled

 

We thought

          we made progress

 

 

We know now

it was spurious

 

 

We are exposed to

regression

               allowed baby steps

until they are retracted

 

 

So here we are

           in a place forced upon us

           in a place where we have never been fully welcomed

 

contradictorily attempting

                                     to make our way

 

 

You say the road not taken

we say the only option

 

 

                     So we persevere

                                           as long as we’re allowed

          our allowance

is shortening

 

   shortening to the point of nonexistence

 

Land of the free…

… a dream

We thought

 

We are not machines

                                 nor is life

 

You make us need to win

                                 though we don’t want it

 

Winners versus

                       losers

has been created

             by man

                       by you

 

so you can continue

            to win

 

                        and look down

on us

 

---

 

Steer Us Adrift

To support these claims

only evidence will suffice

 

          A fortunate opportunity

          will only steer us adrift

 

                     A humbling experience

                     proves

 

                     a humbling experience

 

 

So do you think

                      they actually listen to you

 

 

I’m hungry enough

          to listen

though all I hear

          growls

                     clicks

                               hums

 

 

Mandatory floggings and flaying take the place of response

                                                        while the senses dull

 

          And we are here

                    a semblance of community

                               though I don’t know your name

 

I recognize your existence

                                     it’s greatly appreciated

 

No need for two sides

                     one will suffice

                                           at this juncture of almost

 

---

 

A Chance Encounter

The light catches

           the melanin

                                it’s mid-afternoon

 

The promise of the sinister

                                        holds no relevance

and you decide to say “hello”

           “How you doing?” – without consideration

           “Great.  Thank you?” – quizzically would be an understatement

 

There is a difference between

                                            being stuck

          and being         trapped

                                            the latter

                     is painful

 

A sensationalized sense

                             of otherness

                                 exercises a stubborn consistency

deflecting                   inclusion

               even as we  sit

               in close       adjacency

 

                     We occupy an in-between state

           can diversity actually be

a bad characteristic of our existence

 

We move                     towards

                                  this

                                  that

                     - as far as we’re allowed -

to find            ourselves

to find            you

 

 

          Do you speak my language

 

          Do you operate in my space

                                          do you even exist in my space

 

Are you isolated due to your curiosity

 

I am a witness to the flow of this stone

 

Isolation is a constant

          you don’t look like me

                        think like me

                        feel like me

 

                                          Nor do you understand

 

This place was built for you

                      our plight is contemporary