They Told Me

 

 

They told me-

the teachers

logic

lawyers

and all common sense-

that what I made was mine.

 

That what I made was mine,

and I

was safe

or would be saved

if someone ever

tried

to take it

maim it

break it

claim

they

made it.

I was safe.

I would be saved.

 

They told me this

and so

I made my show of love

and put my heart

online

because I wanted

and I need to

give

the things I make

to people

who

might

need

it

too.

 

and maybe I could live

one day

just live

from doing this

alone

if

I

could

reach

the people who can help me

make

the things

I love to.

 

They told me that

I would be safe.

They told me

I'd be saved.

 

They do not tell me this today

they say

‘it doesn’t work that way’

and watch as, bite by bite

my work

my art

my soul

my heart

my goodness

trust

my

sense

of

faith

are eaten

all is eaten

beaten

turned into rank festeration

all of us turned into slime

morass of lies

and why

just

why?

 

I ask them.

 

Why?

 

Why haven't you

saved me?

 

"Well."

"It's all your fault."

They say.

"You put it all online."

 

And then they laugh as if they’re glad

as I am robbed

as I go mad

As if they knew that one day we would all

be sold

our hard work

sold

by strangers, strangers! all the while

while lawyers,

laws

and all their smiles

stand by

and idly

shrug.

 

Is it our fault?

For wanting nothing more

than just to make

for making's sake?

 

Of course it’s not

but

‘of course’

does not

save us

save me

from the rot

and now

I find a part of me

just wanting all the world to burst; to burn me up, and let me out

into the stars

like fireworks.

 

For wouldn’t that be infinitely better

than to sink-

no-

 

than to be

 

sunk

 

stripped and plundered

 

 

 

down

 

 

 

into

 

 

 

 

the

 

 

 

 

 

gutter.