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I might have blurry vision,
But I can see perfectly clear that I have feelings for you.
Sometimes, it’s embarrassing
being a ceiling fan
for a man.

I turn myself in circles—
whizzing,
buzzing,
whirling—
just so he can have
the illusion of being cool.

Meanwhile,
he stays still.
Unmoved.
Unaware.

Never noticing
how much I do
just to keep the air
from feeling stale.

He doesn’t thank me.
Doesn’t see me.

Just mutters,
“Must’ve been the wind,”
and moves on
with his day.
Do you realize?
that if you still partake in the system
that your ancestors from long ago
tried to dismantle
and your descendants will grapple
to survive
until they expire—
that you are not really free
but instead
just dancing in a cage
with different music.

The old music was:
“separate but equal,”
“work hard and pray,”
“be grateful to be allowed in the room.”

The new music is:
“grind harder,”
“go viral,”
“representation is enough,”
“you got followers — you made it.”

The four wall are not that different.
They changed the soundtrack, not the system.
A little something for 4th of July.
Did you know you’re stronger than a knight? Because you wear no armor, yet you still bear the scars of every battle you’ve survived.
You did not stop believing because you failed.
You failed because you stopped believing.
If I were the jester
and you, the princess in your high tower—
knowing I was hired
for nothing but your amusement—
still, I’d bow, I’d dance, I’d play the fool
again and again
if only to bring you joy
and catch a glimpse of your laughter.
I’m back y’all.
Next time you don’t want to be friends anymore,
Say it to my face—like you did before.
Cause laughing while pointing out my flaws
Feels like trying to kiss me with a chainsaw.
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