Perhaps Being Alone Is Less Lonely

And there it is.

Another part of me

That must be put away

Never again to be displayed

Because that facet of me

Has been labeled as undesirable

At least for this audience.

****

But isn't that what we do?

Window dress for the audience at hand?

From our larder of us-ness

We pick and choose

A collection of traits, manners and skills

That makes us

Blendable.

Acceptable.

Loveable.

For the peers we walk among.

****

But to be fair

Are we not each guilty of pressing others into similar circumstances?

Do we not also

Rule just as harshly against others?

Ostricizing those that do not fall

In line with our personal ideals?

Are we truly as open minded as we think and portray we are?

****

Because in the end,

Like attracts like

And like minds gather together

And when opposed, brickwall

Against any opposition

Locking opposers outside the circle of sameness.

****

And far too often, in this modern age,

We take it even further

Campaigning against the outsiders

To cast them into ruination if we can

Telling ourselves, it isn't malice, or persecution,

It is justice!

****

But is it truly justice?

Or just another form of bullying?

A way to herd people into compliance.

Forcing people to become fragmented souls

That must become chameleons to thrive and survive

In a world that demands equality and sameness,

Devoid of differences.

Where uniqueness and individuality is no longer in vogue.

And we are left to drown in secrets

And chaffe that living authentically is a lie

Because to do so would remove us from companionship.

****

If the price of friendship is living portraying

Only slivers of ourselves served expressly

to the taste of the audience in attendance.

Perhaps being a loner is less lonely

Than living amongst friends who don't want to know you