The Bard's Contrarian Bar -A Modest Declaration

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