Bigger than myself
When have I stood for the rights of
Other people
People less fortunate than me
Have I ever told the story
Of someone else
With no gain for myself
Of someone else
Instead of me
Instead of the skipping record
Of my inner anthem
Plastered over parchment
And screaming for attention
Did you see my fists curl
Did you see me carry a gun
And stand on a wall
Did you see me rise to the challenge
Of preventing the oppression
Of good, kind-hearted people anywhere
No, you never have
And the swings will stop swinging
And the merry-go-rounds will stop spinning
And little feet will not dig in the sand to take root
And the sun will not nourish
The photosynthesis of our imaginations
Because the voices
that shouted out
“Nevermore”
From years ago
Have faded into
the greedy whispers of
“Give me more.”
