Social animals-
Sometimes it
Takes a minute
To restore that faith
I was never sure I had-
That the majority of people are created equal,
That there's something connecting me to everyone,
That it's worth the effort to contribute
And there's that person, likely a male,
Confirming the racist, classist stereotype I
Wish I never knew-
The bully on the playground who can't read,
Except he's grown up, dumber than ever,
Souring the whole mix,
Testing my optimism.
I'm on an early flight here-
All the sleepy fat red faces I
Passed to get to my seat have
Stuck with me.
Oh, sure,
First world luxury affords condescension,
But if anything will
connect me with the whole sick world,
It's the capacity to judge.
