A Risky Business Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Respecting others in some places,
Can be a risky business.
Especially in climates,
Where thieving and feeding one's greed...
Is the first thing one is taught to address,
With a few scriptures to learn and quote...
To denote one's religious affiliation.

Respecting others in some places,
Can be a risky business.
Since expressing it is attached to weakness.
And people who believe someone is weak,
In atmospheres like this...
Are often the butt-end of jokes.
Until they are provoked to then be labelled crazy.