Unlocked From Logic Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Unlocked I've done from logic.
There's too many now without it.
And those who live less inquisitive,
Appear more happier...
Than the ones trying to define,
Or cause or a reason...
To ease their confused minds.

What was up to take for granted,
Can now be found anywhere around...
Crumbled from past kept beliefs.
On streets where decadence,
Once considered a sin to commit...
Is now marketed,
With a devoted worship to it.

Is it madness?
Or have values slipped,
From minds to admit...
Demanding from others,
A respect shown...
For making known their ownership.

Is it madness?
And minds being controlled.
Diminished from thought.
Completely depleted.
Switched off to do,
Whatever to them told.
And somehow,
Being 'on' to this...
Leaves me feeling,
That I'm the one that has 'flipped'.
I 'aint' havin' it.

Unlocked from logic.
Or attempting to comprehend.
Unlocked I've done from logic.
Or wishes to pretend,
A desire to fit in with the madness.

Oh how I miss,
Those days being called...
'A Nationalistic Nonconforming,
Misfitting Maverick'.

Today?
No one works that hard,
To be labelled 'crazed'.
And not be noticed.
What's the point?
What purpose is served?

Today?
No one is accused,
Of being unpatriotic...
Sitting to await,
A professional basketball game...
To be played.
Or tennis or boxing matches.
And I've seen flags.
No one stood to pledge allegiance.
Nor did I hear an anthem play.
But I have witnessed,
People interrupt a church service.
The moment a celebrity was spotted,
Attempting to listen to a sermon.

Oh how I miss,
Those days being called...
'A Nationalistic Nonconforming,
Misfitting Maverick.'
But I had been,
Just a 'Negro' then.
And not an African American male.
Taunted for not pledging,
My allegiance...
To a song sung to an anthem played.
And...
At a football game?
Unlocked I am,
From this nonsense sold as logic.