Why Do You Hate Me?

Why do you hate me?

For my crushing oppression

& crass subjugation

of countries & creeds

& races & nations

I didn’t do it

Don’t even approve of it

Well, I guess I voted for him the first time

in a moment of pure foolishness.

But I quickly learned my lesson.

Just a little late for conversation

When the bullets started flying

& the body count toll hastens

to an undisclosed location.

But when we ask them when’s enough,

they just stare blankly at our faces

with an easy smile and Gucci laces.

So why do you hate me?

Why can’t I go out and travel,

for fear of being kidnapped by some psychopathic rabble

who has a beef with my police

over some long forgotten battle

that I didn’t fight in.

I wasn’t even old enough to matter.

& why do you hate me?

Don’t you see

That you & I bleed

From the same social disease.

A virus called greed

That we feed and we feed

when we pour the last of the gas in this

corporate machine.

So tell me again why you hate me.

I don’t own slaves,

& I don’t rape babes

& I don’t send kids to the wars that they made.

I don’t cheat on my taxes,

or despise different faiths,

or trade all your resources for a slap in the face.

So tell me again.

Explain to me truly.

What have I done to deserve incredulity

When was the last time I treated you cruelly?

It’s all Sirs and Ma’ams to me

with some small Southern manners.

Is my face & my hair & my ways all that matters?

Or do you blame me for our national scandals?

Hell I punch a time clock,

and wait for retirement

When I’m too old to be bold,

and too tired to fight about it.

So why do you hate me?

I didn’t make the unpopular call,

or take my gun & my knife & put your back to the wall.

I didn’t have nothing to do with your society’s fall.

Oh wait…maybe that’s the problem,

I didn’t do anything at all