by Gabriella Duncan

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I am 

The keeper

Of my integrity

Though tarnished

And worn and

Lessons learned

Later than most,

Systemic sickness

Reached my vibration

But not my consciousness,

So I sit,

As I watch

Some will

Build empathy

Castles within,

And some

Embrace 

Themselves,

As they are

While others

Ostracize

Outrageous

Behavior

Some will

Exercise their

Right to embrace

Themselves

As creatives

I am she

Who is 

Curb sitter

Where all can

Be seen as

The young 

Ones who 

Move about

On foot early

To discover

Life and the

First to lose

The lens of

Indifference

Yet they are

Unaccepted

In an ever

Inconsistent

World while

Desiring love

Wildly, wholly

A life of open 

Arms of acceptance

They gifted me

Teachings for

My understanding

And honor them

Many others 

With much more

Have been so

Unaware of 

Themselves,

Living someone

Else’s plan for 

Them, these

Are also my

Teachers

I was born

With a set

Of scales

As my guide

Not to judge

But to assess

Truths and sort

Out the lessons

Not only for 

Myself but my

Very vast 

Cohabitants of

Mother Earth

For the faster

We attain honestly

The less we struggle

The lies others 

Tell themselves

While speaking

Sideways with

A smile 

Becomes 

A bad habit

Leading to

Dishonesty,

Greed, 

Corruption, 

Are the first

Thing to ‘see’

Not just 

The wealthy,

But sometimes

Even those

Who extend 

A hand in 

The name of

Human dignity,

Making the 

Compromised

Full of fear and 

Mistrust when

It’s needed the

Most as the sins

Of all generations

Become nothing

More than 

Gridlocked

Pointing

Fingers…

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Gabriella Duncan is South Seattle-based poet, writer, and comedian.

Featured image is in the public domain.