The Race.

Race: 1. A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.

2. Each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics.

I hate races

I am tired of running

I have hated it since the days of laps around the sixth grade track

Because in the end it only leaves me

Breathless

Because I wish to keep my opinions to myself

Even though you trash talk like it’s for your own health

I digress

While you rest on an issue related argument to define you

One issue

While I would rather walk the track

Because if you win the race it will be because you took a shortcut through the mud

 And slung some on the way

I hate races

Because we feel like we must assimilate mathematics

In our schematics

That division must always be a common denominator

While common ground and love always cancel out

We’d rather live in doubt of who we are

Because of what someone else says about how we are painted

About how the color of our skin makes us overrated

Or outdated

Or hated

Because whenever there’s a race involved

Someone always has to win

Bathing in their sin

Scathing in their skin

Because they’d rather win

Than play by the golden rule

Because the things that separate us are the things that degrade us

We could be the nation we’ve always wanted to be

if we’d just take a minute to listen

There’s nothing explicit about believing in something

 I cast my vote

I played my game

I placed my bet

I showed my shame

And yet I’m damn glad it’s over

Because I’m ready to wash my hands

Need some orbit for the dirty mouths

need someone to understand

that a political opinion

is not all I possess

but I know what I believe in

and I know progress

I’m proud of what I chose

Of my politic prose

And as for those who’ve got a problem

Keep your complaints in comfort

Because my ears are sacred

Against American hatred.