In the background of this recording please enjoy some of the hysterical laughter by targeting network recruits assigned several times daily to erase any good feelings the poet may have lingering after hearing genuinely friendly laughter anywhere in her vicinity.

*****

Recorded Reading (2:22): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d9ha4ex6xcddq40ngvhmc/Profiles-of-Disaster.mp3?rlkey=b47vbeq9o7vb0rzbk0hlqfcb5&dl=0

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Profiles of Disaster

From a profile we get nothing
In way information of
Nothing to admire or cherish
Certainly nothing to love

What makes profiles? Just a lot of
Fear mongering and hype:
Each of us is far, far more than
Just a parody of type

Just because I shave my hair off
Or put in a belly ring
I’m in no way unfeminine:
Those things don’t mean a thing

When’t comes to knowing me myself
My strengths and weaknesses, my worth
In contribution and concern
Upon our miserable Earth

I look past your chosen attire
It’s not a uniform
I don’t see you as needing
To some gen’ral type conform

You are uniquely valuable
And so, and so am I
Let’s toss those categories
And look each other in the eye

Of course, before we do that
We will have to confess
Their only use was to make some
Seem “more” and some seem “less”

Some kids with which you never ever
Ought to talk or play
And some whose pretty little dresses
Let you know that they’re okay!

This poet, she has moved among
All levels of mere earthly power
Like some intrinsic’lly unsullied
Financially worthless flower

And she can tell you most sincerely
Categorically
Certain, irrefutable,
That costume cannot be

And, indeed, it is not ever
Satisfactory
Indicator of aught worth —
Aught charity, aught honesty

Aught generosity, aught strength
Aught wealth of spirit or of soul
No indicator, none at all
Of what spoiled be, nor what be whole

*****

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

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