Nineteen Years of Schooling (1998)

nineteen years of schooling
of cross-fires of the cool and the hip
that changed constantly
from the mouth voted least likely to succeed
a popular world
full of popular people
thinking popular thoughts

at eight it’s the hair
twelve it’s the eyes
eighteen it’s the boy with the biggest surprise
too bad that he’s black
by popular demand
no yacht club or political party
will ever trust you with command
looks like you have failed the test
of being comfortably conformed
by that punch in the face
of societal love

he says stay in the routing
that lacks all energy
honor thy mother and father
forget about him
can’t you see?
he rocks the boat
your only boat
last left sail
for who knows where

nineteen years of schooling
still to work for the man
who wants to be a woman
who needs to be a man
change your fate
for that ghost in the street
drink in your lap
joint in your mouth
earth in your feet
saving and spreading
that time until death
waiting and wondering
how many years you have left
all of the time
you are out of the moment
running the race
your mind and your body forever trapped
in societal grace.