I am afraid to consume any food
for fear of offending someone.
I am afraid to join any organization
for fear of offending someone.
I am afraid of agreeing with anything
in case I must someday disagree with its corollary.
I am afraid of my face for not being
the face of utter kindness all the time.
I am afraid to support any cause
for fear that it doesn’t go far enough,
unless it goes too far.

I am afraid to admit to being in love
in case it is an outmoded love.
In fact to love at all seems pointless, as I can never
love broadly enough.  All or nothing, they say,
all or nothing — adore afar as you adore nearby
or it’s the same as letting those afar die,
you killer, you monster, you drone.

While I was out
they slew all the bees.
While I was out
I should have stopped the slaughter.

He’s one bad President, or maybe two.
He’s my fault, I should have voted for…
but I didn’t vote for…I voted for…
not that it mattered, not that voting matters,
what a damn fool for voting, say some,
what a damn fool for disarming, say others,
what a damn fool for being in that skin

and while
we are at it,
what a criminal fatness is mine, right?
Right back to the food.  It all comes back to the food
I should eat or not eat
and the votes I make by eating or not eating…

no wonder then why
I raise my hands to my ears
and, still chewing,
turn my partnered, comfortable back
on the world.