The Clean And Dirty Side Of Our Lives Poem by RIC BASTASA

the clean side of us
is the one we wear like a white suit with a red carnation in a pocket
it is less visited but we like to have it always worn
in practically all occasions,

we are proud of it but deep inside it we detest it
since it makes us tiptoe upon what we really are and what we want

that happens ever since and all of us wants to deny it
but we always understand what is this truth all about
no one speaks from the crowd and when one speaks we do not bother
for fear that we may be identified
and well you know
how this small world can be too private and too cruel

you do not get it perfectly
the situation is tense

the dirty side of us is actually inside that suit
it stinks but it is the most delicious stink that we ever tasted
it is food and we love it
secretly in the dining table of our room

we feast upon it and out mouths and hands catch the dirt that it is bringing
yet we have many tissues or rugs or handkerchiefs to rub away what
makes others uncomfortable specially those who are more pretentious than we are

pretense is a virtue nowadays
and being a hypocrite is being professional with our
everyday dealings

be it the church or the capitol or even
with the village chief

i do not want to go direct to the point for now
i am hazy, the world is grey anyway

and look at you there is dirt in your lips and your fingernails
are uncut.

i, of course, understand this matter perfectly,
the norms

perhaps you must have noticed by now why the haze is intended
why the fog is not taken from the path
where we all must pass tonight.