Opposite World: a poem

By Jen Carlisle, formerly houseless poverty scholar

Why is nothing ever simple?

Say what you mean

Mean what you say

Because whether you do or not,

Behaviors and actions

Will always portray

Your truth anyway...

Why is nothing ever easy?

Solve this riddle

Read between those lines

Because whether you do or not,

You're expected to,

No matter how backwards it makes you feel...

I hate living in Opposite World,

Where communication is preached

But goes unpracticed,

Where honesty is demanded

And subsequently reprimanded,

Where fingers are pointed

While ownership is diminished,

Where no good deed

Ever goes unpunished...

Why is everyone so afraid?

Dehumanizing and

Name-calling

To avoid and shun

Having to look at any shadows,

Labeling those who do

As mentally ill or damaged,

All the while struggling

To make sure nobody cracks

The superficial facade

Covering their own "shameful"

And flawed human-ness...

Go ahead...

Keep pretending you're perfect...

Keep judging those who admit they aren't...

Keep hating anyone who is different from you...

Keep doubling those standards.

Why is nothing as it seems?

Over-complicate

And replicate,

Encourage violence and

Shame love,

Teach obedience and conformity

While disowning original

And critical thought,

And discourage all creativity...

But never forget to say

That the opposite is what you really want,

Otherwise there might not be

Enough dissonance to keep control.

Why would I strive to fit into

A mentally ill society

Just to be labeled "normal,"

When all the while

In my heart I would carry

The burden of knowing

That the opposite is true?

Selling your soul

Happens in fragments...

With each passing day

In this upside down world,

Another piece of my authenticity

Is chipped away.

Some of you know exactly what I mean.

Most will just shrug and let it happen, saying,

"It is what it is," in apathetic acceptance

As another piece breaks away.