Monday, April 26, 2021

All, in Pursuit of Happiness

 

 

Perhaps and per sometimes,
above their glass ceiling
women see white men
walking and talking and keeping them down.
Perhaps and per sometimes,
above their wire ceiling
men see a man or a woman
walking and talking and keeping them down.

Perhaps and per sometimes,

we are the schoolteacher,

urban planner,

road paver,

social worker,

line splicer,

and nurse.

Perhaps and per sometimes,
we see men or we see women
walking and talking and keeping us down.
 
Perhaps and per sometimes,
we hear them praiseful and thankful
for having us around.
 
Above our ceilings of wire and glass
they are few.
Below, we are many.
We are their objects of both envy and disdain.
 
Perhaps and per sometimes,
we are grandparented or grandchilded
or will someday be great-grandchilded
by those shadows above wire and glass.
Perhaps and per sometimes,
they have spoken or will someday speak of us fondly
for doing this life well.
We deserve to be celebrated,
not to be divided,
nor have it decided that parts of us 
fit today's category of whom to deride.
At our story among multi-stories
we have a name, a gender, perception of race, 
and ladder of personal history.
 
And, yes,
we may notice those at the story above--
looking down through their glass and wire floor.
We may notice those at the story below--
looking up through their glass and wire ceiling.
Both may see our work and our talent.
One or both may not. 
Perhaps and per sometimes,
they see us aspire to climb or descend,
or stay where we are--
all in pursuit of happiness.
All, in pursuit of happiness.

 


 

All, in Pursuit of Happiness
Bob Komives



 
 
 
 
Fort Collins © 2021 :: All, in Pursuit of Happiness  :: 2104
 
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