The Grey Areas: Revised Poem by RIC BASTASA

they think and teach you
that black is black and white is white

that either you are moral or immoral
that either you leave or stay
that either you die or live
that there are only choices of
either/or

they tell you do not do this
do not do that
do only this and that

they prohibit you and tell you
it is for your own good
as though they are gods
and you are the dogs

an old man with bright eyes
asks me to go near him
and he says: try the middle of things
it is not just black or white but
there are shades and shades of choices
in between

in there everything is allowed.
the grey areas. the exceptions. the exemptions.

try them. they are all exciting. like the colors of the rainbow
like the patches of red, and orange and blue and pink

you see, who is telling you that there are no other colors
than black and white?

i am neither good nor bad.
In truth, i am just myself.