Ten-Finger Exercises

controversial poetry in progress

Good Intentions

The Spirit’s being borne across the land
dismantling the barriers of color, class and creed
by sweeping out the labels that divide us.
That sounds fine
except, in practice, where we draw the line.
(Those who have been chastised for
potentially offending
call it, in derisive tones,
“political correctness.”
I think I will call it Homo Sapiens Respectus.)

But here’s the problem, one of them at least:
Inclusion doesn’t work for everyone.
In fact, some railed against it, wanting to protest it,
proudly wore their labels
as if they’d been discounted, not included.
Those who’d first extended
what they’d thought was God’s own charity
found themselves rejected
and that didn’t sit so well.

How do we promote equality for everyone
when people on both sides are justly proud of who they are?
Those who’ve had the luxury of favored position
Want to be magnanimous, don’t want to be one-downed.
They want to offer “just as good”,
Not have it offered to them.
Only God’s own love can help bring this around.