*****

Recorded Reading (3:33): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2swovpd0eft2i9coju5p5/Taking-it-Personally.mp3?rlkey=fv9dy9njtbooevetyi4pwx418&dl=0

*****

Taking it Personally

Don’t take this personally, now, but
You know all that hooey
About not taking things personally?

You can shove it
Impersonally hard
Into a very personal place,
Okay?

It is our cowardly failure
To take things personally
That has us all
In the condition we’re in

We take things
Officially
Corporately
Acceptably
Routinely
By the book
At arm’s length

Im-
Personally

Impersonally we despise our sisters
Impersonally we walk past our abused children
Impersonally we cage our brothers
Poison our planet
Condemn
Condemn
Condemn

Not personally, mind you
Never that
We do it all so coldly
Never even feel a single twinge

That the way it’s supposed to be?

I don’t think so.

Maybe we need to take things

More personally

Maybe we need to take things

Personally
At all

You, just now
Deliberately tried to make me
Personally
Unhappy

Why?

Were you acting out of misery?

Would you have done it to anyone else
In my position?

Yes

Now:

The key question

Again —

Why?

Why are you miserable
My friend?

Is it because you feel
No one sees you
Or treats you
Personally?

Are you isolated
By poverty or by
Priveledge?

Does no one find you
Precious?
Wonderful?
Worthy?
Valuable?
~ Even,
Necessary?

Do you feel reduced
To an
Impersonal
Cipher?

A
Commodity?

Well, then, that,
It appears,
May be the very root
The source
The beginning…

And the possible
Radiant
Joyful
End
Of our problem

Ay?

*****

This poet presently lives at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code #72D-31S, or choose to donate by personal check. It will take about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

Thank you for supporting quality in the fine arts