Hunger, Racism, and the Misfortune of Greed

The water turfs out clear 

words 

Of wisdom, in a charm that 

inveigles 

Us to part from our old self: 

Of brown muck and

streams 

Of prejudice.

-

The world turns its face 

To the gnarled curiosity of 

racism;

To the ardor of same, and 

not odd.

-

I’m not different. 

I’m selfsame.

-

Hunger breeds racism. 

Racism breeds money. 

Greed breeds misfortune.    

-

The misfortune of the world

may scrape;

The pores of my skin ache. 

-

Pain sighs at our beauty. 

Pain would empty our plates.

Pain hates, and I love. 

Pain judges, and I crave. 

-

What is here but greed?

What is here but hate?

What is here but skin?

-

Are you the skin I

Inhabit

Or

Are you the hate inhabiting me?

A/ N: Do you ever take a shower, then look down? Yeah, me too. That was what led me down this path. I started thinking about the skin we inhabit and the muck the world tries to wash away. This poem is just a raw reflection on how greed and racism aren't just big ideas. They are things that ache in our very pores. Thank you so much if you got this far! 🤗❤️🙏🏾