Who I May Be

This poem is for all the many men of America who just let us down so greatly. All of you who have been waiting decades now for a cause and a reason to show you are strong and courageous and capable of protecting the things you hold dear. I saw you when I was a child, and I see you now. We all see you. And we see what you hold dear very clearly.

Who I May Be

  Well, I was born in a small town
  and I live in a small town
  Probably die in a small town
  Oh, those small communities
                —J Mellencamp

There are rules

Breaking the rules results in violence
Questioning the rules results in violence
Misunderstanding the rules results in violence
Providing aid and comfort to those
who break, question, or misunderstand the rules
results in violence

Peace is the constant, unending assimlation of these rules
Never discussed
without violence or
cutting, cruel humour

Assimilation of rules and cultivation of
a slipperiness and 
an adaptability
which allows for some notion of liberty and freedom
from violence

Carefully treading around the negative space of rules
describing who I may be