The Acting Out Poem by Raj Dronamraju

A short history of these salt mines
The ones we labor in
I thought we were in this together

The extraction process is have and hold and ingratitude and checking in and checking out
Society is flesh and blood but today is neither of those
I cry out in public and make a scene, no one cares, no one reacts, no one tries to stop me

Dance in overflow bars on the corners of crowded city streets
I am for you, you are for comparison
It would be nice to eat of something sweet right about now

Always the first target
Slim laughs in the cafeteria when you dropped your tray
But no one laughed when you responded with words that invite fists

He's so unhealthy, he falls in love with the way you are shaking
When he says you look good, it's a trap
And you should jump out of the way before the trigger is sprung

He's so unhealthy but you drew him to you
With calamity based consciousness and tears of helplessness
Set your own snare for those who clutch at their clothing and claw at the night