@Jynx thanks for creating this thread. I stumbled on it just now and remembered something I wrote not long ago. I won't try to explain it. Hopefully the meaning speaks for itself. I'm not well versed (heh) in poetry so pretty shy about sharing so pls be kind. 😬
Here goes:
If The World Was Mine
"Treat others how you'd like to be treated,"
The weak endlessly plead with one another,
Ruled over by uncaring brutes, bullies,
Warlords, and dictators.
In the realm of the violent and manipulative,
They'd love it if you played their game.
You.
An amateur, a fool, a captive soul.
A pawn in their schemes, a plaything, an expendable minion,
Else you'd be dead.
For silence is survival's sole companion.
Stay unseen...
Don't ask questions...
You can already see that the brutes' control,
More than you, by far.
Those who try,
Slowly eaten.
Or disappear!
Forever silent,
Lost to the void.
Yes.
Bow to the prevailing paradigm.
Shoulder the burdens inherited by you.
Toil to pay for the unseen.
But don't do too much!
If you want to keep what you've earned.
And don't do too little!
Or your support may be burned.
They risk nothing while you stay meek and compliant.
Concealed -courageously- in the shadows.
Watching the whirlwind of deceit, violence, and foolery unfold in the world.
Doing as you're expected to "keep the peace".
Echoing timeless platitudes spoken by generations past.
A cog in the machine.
Keep your head down.
Do as you're told.
Do just enough,
To pay them their gold.
But keep your chin up!
And be kind to each other!
You're done-for alone,
Walk the line motherfu*cker.
But, what if?
...
..
.
..
...
Stop!
You're no Spartan,
There's no "spirit" inside you!
You've a marketing degree,
And, play tennis for excitement.
And, one of your kids hates you.
You're bankrupt!
A Coward!
With bills to pay.
That fire inside you,
Smouldering low now.
And let's be honest...
You'll never fight back.
You wouldn't know how.
Not against all that.
Who could?
No one, at least not yet.
But perhaps,
One day.
If you're brave enough,
You'll see.
You'll pick a fight.
One you can win.
(Or one you can lose bad enough,
Just to feel alive again...)
And you'll stand for something!
Not meek anymore.
Not hiding.
Not weak,
Slow,
Ashamed.
But also,
Not today.
I've got to be kind.
Because that's how I'd want to be treated.
If the world was mine.
