I remember the passion
protesting and marching
actively involved
a movement for change
the world would have to bend
to our wills and whims
but lately,
I feel tired –
I do not want to quietly
go into the night
to turn away from the vigor of youth
and instead focus on a garden
and preparing for retirement
it is my desire to fight in the streets
to take back this nation
for its citizenry
but lately,
I feel tired –
there is a chance
real and tangible
that the status quo
will soon go the way of the dinosaur
relegated to storybooks
tall-tales of intolerance
and hate values
sweeping and sustainable
the youth movement could alter
world history
though, I fear,
I may miss the party
as lately,
I feel tired –
tired of lying politicians
weary of systemic inequality
worn down by systematic racism
grown thin by corporate lobbyists
and pharmaceutical special interest groups
depleted, emotionally and physically
by a capitalistic mass media
bent on feeding the masses
the propaganda flavor of the day….
I am tired –
I cannot watch another Botox injected
surgically altered  
plastic alien-human
hybrid
tell me what sandwich is better
or which car to drive
that my sneakers ****
this is the man to vote for
that I need a haircut
the mortgage can be refinanced
there is a pill for what ails me
…..what does it take
to live in the ideal of the United States
is there a pill that will re-write
the original Bill of Rights
to include all Americans
is there a face cream
that will stop white cops
from shooting black children
on tax-payer built streets
that doesn’t give me stomach cramps….
You’ll let me know?
Won’t you……