Mutilated Scrutiny Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

The higher the profile,
The closer the scrutiny.
And depending on who one is,
All it takes...
Is having self confidence.
Pride and identity.
With a dignity,
And in public observed...
Walking alone.
With it shown,
Minding one's own business.

A business,
One has known who one is.
That becomes enough,
In some places to be noticed...
As a threat to suspect,
Someone like this...
Has to be up to something.
Something no good.
Yet worthy to be watched.
Gossiped about.
Microscoped close.
And relied upon to fantasize,
Of having a life that is lived...
Other than the life one has.
Seeking to feel better.
In every way possible one can.
Without inviting,
Ethnic mutilation.
Performed,
By one's own people.
Incapable to recognize,
Or define...
What peace of mind to find is.

And being aware,
What discipline to have...
Benefits and means.
With motivation kept.
Can do to attract like a magnet,
Opportunities.
When nothing else...
People prioritize to discuss,
Is...
What things are possessed.
Where one lives.
And at what address.
What one does to impress.
Year and model,
Of car one drives.
Money to imagine one's got,
In pockets.
With this to share,
Along with pretensions.
And...
If this one does not do,
To express...
Creative are the minds.
Finding something mysterious,
To make up.
Much more exciting,
Than minding one's business.
Or being who one is.
And doing that,
As best as one can to improve!