Overnight Empathy Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Anyone who has not before expressed,
Having prior interest...
In the lives of those,
Confined by design...
To face disparities,
Living in the inner cities.
Diminished of opportunities.
Shown a known indifference.
Tolerating institutionalize racism.
That creates self hatred.
Infighting.
Loss of dignity, identity and respect.

Whomever it is,
Claiming to have awakened...
With a deeply felt,
Receiving of overnight empathy.
While living their life,
Free from strife.
Diversity to know it.
And has had limited contact,
With the people...
Living within such distressed neighborhoods.
Has one thing on their mind.
Climbing to political prominence.
And has a plan to accomplish this.
With a convincing,
Sold easily to sell.

And yet...
This conniving is accepted.
Although overlooked,
Are those living amongst them.
Those who possess,
The skills, talents and expertise.
Doing their best to improve their lives.
With devoted commitment.
Proving familiarity does breed contempt.
Smothered under disrespect and ignorance.
Leaving folks limited to choose someone else.
To pick and select,
One unknown...
To lead them out of their own wilderness.
Ultimately discovering themselves,
Fools to dupe repeatedly done.

Another protesting of accusations take place.
Over issues they create.
To make for themselves.
Another protesting to blame others,
For a need of unity and end of division.
With it then to wonder why,
Those living within their neighborhoods.
Skilled, talented and with expertise.
Knowledgeable to obtain,
College degrees in various fields endeavored.
And...
Ooze with identity, dignity and intelligence.
Decisive AND competent.
Yet...
Have long abandoned their thoughts.
Dreams, wishes and desires.
Of being unified with others.
Who will never decide what it is,
They collectively want to prioritize.

To then recommend and suggest,
Electing someone to represent their interests.
Who has suddenly awakened,
With an overnight empathy for them.
Knowing,
What their motivation, incentive and intention is.