A Different Taste Of Life Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Wants are not needs.
And many discover this,
When their wants begin...
To be set aside.
As their needs become,
The main priority.

People have begun to witness,
Missing the feeding of their greed.
Selfishly.
While once to have dismissed,
The needs of others.
No longer thought or heard to say,
'Those...People'.
Meaning,
Those they regard as beneath them.
And minorities.
How times have changed so dramatically.

I remember living in the projects.
And living to become accustomed,
To having less.
But respect to have and dignity to keep,
Were early lessons I learned.
Taught by some great teachers.
No one then pretended to be,
Someone they were not.
Well...
Maybe a few were lost to delusions.
But identity to know oneself,
Has had a way to make 'myself',
A better representation.
Through self examination.
Without making excuses.
Or accusing others to fault and blame.

Today?
It seems...
Those who have cheated, lied and deceived,
Are being made to pay the price,
And consequences for their decisions.
Done as if not to have had,
Real life experiences.
Isolated.
From 'them and their kind'.
Comments made and to me addressed.
Oh yes.
I remember this too well.
In fact...
I don't have to reminisce,
What still goes on for me to witness.

But...
The flavor over the past few months,
Has brought to many...
A different taste of life.
And a truth to face.

I had as a child been often told,
'God does not like ugly.'
And...
As a child I grew to know what that meant.
So much ugliness...
Has begun to become exposed,
From those no longer...
Can hide to disguise who they are.
Whether masked or keeping a social distance.
Or parking an expensive car.
Heading to file,
Either for unemployment compensation.
Or await in a very long line for food.

Choosing this not to be a want.
But a need.
Leaving behind a charading to masquerade,
The necessity!

"Excuse me,
Are you 'people' standing together awaiting,
For food assistance and your welfare checks?
You see...
I am quite different.
Where is the entrance for those who are,
Temporarily displaced from comfort zones,
Because of a...
How should I put this,
Without offending anyone.
You know that pandemic started by those...
Yellow people with slanted eyes.
Where would 'you people' suggest that I go! "

-Oh...
This is too tempting.
God please,
Help me not to have my ancestors judged.
Ummm...
Behind me is a line.
And as far as your eyes can see,
You will find the ending of it.
That I guarantee you.-

"Wow.
I understood your every word.
You speak,
As if you are intelligent.
If I am not offending you.
Your voice...
Have you considered doing radio? "

-The line?
It ends behind you.
Go! -

"Brock Peters!
That's who you remind me of."

-The line.
It ends behind you.
Go! -