the absorbing, the burning and the cooling

i have taken it all - every one of Those Acts every dirty look every snide remark every crude joke

every socio-economic disadvantage

every attempt to take away my humanity every cold gun pointed at my raised hands

i have taken it all - all of Those Acts not only what has happened to me but also what has happened to my family,

my friends, my ancestors, my heroes over centuries and overseas i have taken it all and absorbed it into my smooth, warm Skin

my first layer of protection against mankind.

it rests there

just under the surface. soon it is a part of Me; it is a part of my i den ti ty i can feel it burning in my chest, in my joints, in my veins,

in the words i am screaming in the back of my mind. it rests there and swells and boils and burns until it turns into anger - hot, heavy,

raging to start a Revolution and i almost almost let it but for your sake,

for the sake of your translucent fragility, for the sake of your throne,

i don't. i calm myself, i cool it down; no Revolution today. if only you knew my dear baas my dear madam how Much it takes for me to do that on a

daily basis. if. only. you.

k n e w .