weaving around a broken downtown
past orange cones and yellow tape
a scary construction crane carries
my eyes onto two matted inmates

one's shirt is stained with soot
the other's once-white shoes are grey
they're trotting in tandem down a detour
parallel lives playing inches away

but the first man receives a nod
a dressy pastor looks past his sod
motions for him to come and play
a hard hat, an apple, and a juicy pay day

with nary a glance his eager tone spells his stance
grateful for being allowed away
from his past, this his chance
to build a steeple of new people and prey

what's so different between that man and you?
why does he not qualify
is his soil from any lesser root
why does your hand work and his get passed by?

now the first man takes his turn
with money to burn and
a lunch hour that's been spurned
by his cardboard boxed brother

who held out an identical
"reprehensible" hand to the one soul
he'd planned to count on
in this fellowship-filthy land

but that brethren of "humanity"
in the name of financial gain
smote their own blood
for one flaw...one mortal stain

for on his shirt sat not
the soot of "Christian progress"
but rather regurgitated remnants
of a life spilled into solace

once so very similar to his dark-skinned twin
a playground built by their father
proud and hopeful
waiting for the favor that would return as sin

I do not simply close my eyes
and take of that body
I do not drink grape juice as blood
no to me hell would be holy

hell breeds advocacy and truth
in a world devoid of roots
where downtrodden are in droves
but we parade them as if they were a gold tooth

I choose to SEEK
the truth in every lie

I choose to SEEK
hatred hiding in their smiles

I choose to SEEK
the kind in the supposedly evil

I choose to SEEK
brilliance in the "dumb"

and I choose to SEEK
a better world
one that beats from
a broken drum
discarded once but fun

I use my own mouth to flavor my chewing gum

one kind and one way
don't make my starved soul sway
show me a hand that isn't smooth or perfect
and lead my legs to the light of that day