The Degradation Olympics Poem by Raj Dronamraju

Everyone is competing to mar their beautiful minds
To permanently scar thoughts and associations
To fear the crowd is to admit you're human
To break a sweat is to defang effort as a phobia

Salt Peter for the Phantom of the Opera
Let him keeps his secret lusts secret
Let shame enforce the status quo

But on the eve of a four year purge
Where you push aside what sets the cause
Daily regimen of fierce fidelity by example

Establishment boots perfectly licked
Four years of practice, a lifetime of obeisance
Part of a gang of toadies engaged in the same exercise

And here is your competition
They're long past caring how they look or act
What damage they do to themselves they can no longer see

On a track worn down by the guilty, the wretched, and the hollow
The person next to you wishes the starter pistol was aimed the back of his head
No matter the placing at this event, they tabulate identity in negative numbers