it’s time to talk to folks that be
in charge of our democracy
its time to deal with the results
and damage of your apathy
or worse your downright hatridcy
it’s chilling when I think about
the impacts that you fail to see
of building the periphery

you see their skin
you see their life
you see them smile and laugh and cry
you ignore their plight
celebrate their strife

you pounce again
denounce again
you rant and scream and pout again
you hate again
bate them again
and wonder why they complain again

‘there is no longer slavery’
‘why complain, inequity?’
it’s because you have to ask -- you see?
stop standing ‘round the periphery

you idolize your blancotry
and say you are more pure than thee
you even attack their grammartry
but this is 'cause you do not see
that language changes with the time
though you won’t aks reason why
because its easier to be
stuck atop periphery

so, screw your sense of pleasantry
and your damning of modernity
you overvalue conformity
while stalking ‘round periphery

and while the topic, stalking be
from that spot atop the tree
you're still unable true to see
the beauty that humans can be
and love that’s in this gathering
from lofty ol’ periphery

see…
painted nails are beautiful
and tattooed skin is beautiful
the scars of life are beautiful
yes, body hair is beautiful
differ-ence is beautiful
and identity is beautiful
be-ing alive is beautiful
and yes pronouns 
they’re beautiful

choosing a life that’s beautiful
means digging ‘neath the skin to see
how lovely life can truly be
after leaving the periphery

there’s a failing in your humanity
but hatred’s not your destiny
you have the time to change
before your life becomes a history

take the time to listen to
a person who’s dif’rent from you
who has a dif’rent history
and lives a harder life than thee
it’s not a crime for them to be
stuck outside periphery

you’ve never had to transition
you’ve barely had to look within
you were born ... and born again
you learned to hate ... and hate again
your fear makes you blind to see
from your spot stuck on periphery

and while the topic is at stuck
let’s think of those down on their luck
who do not have the means to be
as well-to-do as you and me
they enable you to live a life
of convenience and utility
at least for those who look like thee
matched with the damned periphery

you do not seem to really care
if a person was born anywhere
as long as they can service thee
but once they’re done, how dare they be
anywhere that you can see
from your spot atop periphery

some travel here from far away
looking for a place to stay
where some freedom there may be
so, why should they be punishéd
for being born in poverty
so much worse than you have seen
but do you have to be so mean?
don’t feel bad for what you be
just try to truly, truly see
your place along periphery

they cook for you
and pick for you
they gather, clean, and sing for you
they serve for you
and work for you
while being underpaid by you
you wear them out
and use them up

and at a time devised by you
you decide to say a forced adieu
this is abuse, please come to see
climb down off the periphery

I feel as though I may not be
your overflowing cup of tea 
so will you allowith me?
to take a different approach
and speak to those who came to be
long after mom and daaa-ddy

I speak to you young Abigale
And Madison, Collin, and Kale
It’s time to stop insanity
like psychopathic puffery
It may not be the world they want
your parents who now lead out front
part of a future you can be
side by side with those dif’rent than thee

so lock hands with those most unlike you
cast off your veiled affluency
and shred bounds of authority
dismantle the periphery