Subtext Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

You may want to see me,
Down and out.
Beneath and under shadows cast.
And you may spend a lifetime,
Trying to provoke this image upon me.
But look around you!
Is there anything you have done to do,
Different than those choices made...
Others selected to choose to do to themselves?
And like you we are both from the same 'hood.

What attention do you expect,
I would neglect myself to give to you?
Special and undivided?
What lessons do you teach,
Do you believe I have yet to learn?
Is there a subtext to your method?
Is there something metaphorical,
With some kind of message that has depth...
I just don't get?
Or are you just hoping time you've wasted,
Will eventually become mine to find and define.