Diminishing Influence Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

The fear of losing,
A noticeable...
Diminishing influence.
Is not only what most parents face.
This is also a dilemma experienced,
By those who believe...
They are losing control,
Of beliefs to think...
Themselves rulers over others.
With depictions received...
To delude using a variety of mediums.
Communicating images,
Focused on their abilities.
While comparing them to others.
In less than flattering ways.

The fear of losing,
A noticeable and diminishing influence.
Becomes a traumatic realization.
When reminded on a daily basis.
By the ones unable to accept,
A child that has grown...
Has a right to reject,
Anyone attempting...
To prevent and stop their forward steps.
As if they should neglect,
Progress to make.
That has nothing to do...
With aging values and standards kept.
But to advance them.

And those afraid,
Of witnessing their influence leave.
Begin to introduce,
Their dislikes to no longer hide...
The limits of bigotry and racism implied.
To place upon others to identify,
As the reason and cause...
Conflicts, division and confusion begins.
To then use race as a defense mechanism.
With it to hope,
This dependable and outdated concept...
Will provoke many unconscious,
To accept and believe...
Those of color,
Are out of their minds.
Wishing to leave the ones without color,
Behind with less influence.

"None of this makes sense.
When those of color,
Have no control over the media.
And contribute to a marketplace,
Noticeably leaving them,
In many places and situations...
Disenfranchised.
Yet solicited to support,
An economy.
To then be despised,
For their efforts to endeavor.
Without this to be prioritize to recognize."

-How stupid can people get? -

"Today?
Thoughtlessness is the 'rage'!
And that verdict has yet to be determined."