Telephones to Talk to Strangers

it's considered pride until you're white
thousands of years carefully building stereotypes
making sure we don't cross property lines
invoking fear that is meticulously tied
into a fascinating, fabricated life

an assembled feat
of mitigated opportunities
land of the free
home of the accidentally conceived
the thieves
the cheats
the greed
the irrationality
a constitution that guarantees
our rights, our liberties
a country's responsibilities
but then decrees
who deserves these

all instruments in a systematic game
a throw of the dice decides who plays
who dies
and who gets paid
who is sacrificed
and who gets saved
we all have our roles, they say
so consume, sleep, vote, and pray
it's the American way

we don't know our neighbors' names
but can list every coffee place

we cry when our telephones shatter
but ask us if genocide matters
we will serve you bullshit
on a f*****g silver platter

so, sing for the people
the ones with and without voices
who live in a world
where there aren't many choices

sing for the fearful, the fearless, and the numb
sing so you feel it in your lungs
sing until those goddamn tears come

because if you're inhaling in a world
that prefers to see you wasting
you're not breathing-
you're suffocating

it's considered chaos until it's organized
so don't close your eyes
it is now our time
to rise

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right.
"we don't know our neighbors' names
but can list every coffee place"
I miss the days of long conversation and human contact. I tell all people. Know your heritage and be proud. People need to change their priority and enjoy nature, laugh and have some real fun before it is too late. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote