Pushed Back Poem by Raj Dronamraju

I liked how he wrote of clouds and being outdoors
Even though I didn't care for clouds or being outdoors
I like to be indoors with the windows closed and the curtains drawn tightly

I like how he viewed himself as big and expansive and playing around in the heavens
Even though I would never get off the ground
I am cemented here and I made coleslaw out of this

I would like to torture him slowly with claustrophobia and negative thoughts
And unhealthy air that makes commuters wear surgical masks on their way to work

Cracking my knuckles and hating idealists
And gently crying lunatics left in cul de sacs that will never know an advocate

I will be your advocate
Though they'll strive to characterize me as thug-like
Isolated on a trapeze and pug-like

But I've learned it's important not to be too hard on yourself
And to see things as they are
And to pet the heads of naive adorers in prayers that fill us all with diabetic sludge
This pushes us, I pushed back