Our Stubborn Definitions Kept Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Most of us were taught to keep sustained,
Only one interest.
And that would be kept in ourselves.

We were taught to look at others,
As charity cases, subservient and weak.
And delighted to defeat them as seen on TV.
Or with games to highlight our 'worldly' aggressions.
With obsessions to dominate.

We were taught to believe,
We were entitled to take anything we touched.
With a declaring of it ours immediately.
No matter whose hands grasped it first.
Or feet stood upon it since time began.
No matter what 'it' was we wanted...
It was ours with a declaring of a victory.

We were taught to perceive ourselves,
As the greatest things on Earth...
God has ever made from birth.
With a feeding on images to thirst this.

We isolated ourselves from those,
Who did not accept our ways!
And today we can not accept 'ourselves'...
Being without.
And we demand that others pay...
For the greeding of our selfishness,
To maintain our perceptions,
Within us nurtured to stay.

And those who have known us to be,
Highly motivated by our creative thoughts...
Are wishing us the best,
With a battle with truth now on our doorsteps.
And in a foolishness keeps us in this struggle fought.

And most of us protest this 'invader'...
That has come to test,
Our stubborn definitions kept with such conviction.
No matter what it takes...
We honor those who give away their lives,
In a public display to say they are out heroes.
But those in the know pray for their souls.