Tell Me What to Do

Go ahead, boss me around
I know you're in charge here
That you have all the expertise
To know what's best for me
For us
For my son
For everybody
I know I don't have a choice
I accept that

But don't tell me I have to like it
Don't tell me to smile
Don't insist I be your friend
Or thank you
Or caress fondly
Or laugh about
The still raw sting on my cheek

Some day I will
Remember this with
Gratitude
You say

Some day I will
No longer feel the pain
From the cracked, leaking hole in my chest
And forgive you
I say

But not now

This Fall Apart

Achebe was right
The earth spins on
And on
In relatively perfect control

But we all spin out of it

We think its just a pirouette
Our own perfect dance
And if everyone else would only spin
The very same way

It will all go well
The perfect
Harmonious
Spin

But we all spin
Every which way
Refusing to bend
Adjust a foot
Trip a little more slowly
Or let someone else in line

So people spin away from us

Serves them right
We think
They should not have spun like that
They should adapt
To the best spin possible

We grin our knowing smiles
Go figure
Shows they lacked the talent
Or determination
Or understanding
Lacked the dance ability

It feels good
To be better
To dance the right way
While all around us spin off
Oddly

No need to bend
Or touch
Or stay
Or wait for them

Better just to spin
Alone.