I am not a white man
Or any other color of
Any other man
And I will be damned
If I let you call me ‘Other’
And please do not presume to assume
That I am one of you
I am not a Christian man
Yet I tithe and thrive in a Christian construct
By birth I am an American
But I would sacrifice that plan
Just to be a good man
In the course of human events
Silence is consent so I am not content
To leave your understanding to your own devices
Of distortion, extortion, disproportion
So hear me in your silence or in your roar
Or in your rage
I hereby disengage from all but my children
All but my close friends, former or forever
All but any living soul who honors truth
I am not a white man
Or any other color of
Any other man
And I will be damned
If I let you call me ‘Other’
The Bard of Appanoose
