How Does It Feel? Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

How does it feel,
To have your realities debated?
To have your essence of your way of life...
On the precipice,
Of being stripped away from you overnight!

This nailbiter has to have you uptight!
To come to grips to realize,
Those picked for leadership...
Have gambled away your well-being,
And thoughtlessly your benefits.

How does it feel,
To have your standards and values erased?
While you sit with nothing to eat...
As you pride yourself with exquisite etiquette!
Knowing you are moments from being evicted.

How does it feel,
To be completely duped?
Tricked by slicksters from resources you treasure.
And told what you thought had belonged to you...
Now requires your blood and heartbeat too!

How does it feel,
To be cast aside like trash?
How does it feel to be called out of your name...
By those who show no empathy!
And you have exhausted,
The need to feed you further deceit.
How does it feel...
To have others deplete you of your dignity?

Believe me!
There are those of color with a history,
That have already experienced...
Those acts of greed,
You assisted in implementing.
Now it's your turn to bleed.
How does it feel?
Surreal?