Viva La Difference Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Folks do not know what is going on!
They don't.

Walking around with their heads hanging down.
In slow belabored shuffles.
And taught to fuss in muffled cusses.
Only to become audible,
To rave and rant...
About their pitiful lives lived,
Struck by bad luck...
Like ducks struggling to wade,
In stormy seas.

With unpaid telephone and cable bills,
Left to weight upon their burdened shoulders.
Hoping not to be disconnected,
For fear fresh gossip...
May be prevented to descend on their desperate ears.
Leaving them with a life peering from windows.
As if a death sentence has been given.

Folks do not know what is going on!
They don't.
From Sunrise to Sunset...
A belongingness,
From them has gone.

And as I witness,
Their treasured pitifulness.
I remind myself...
How close emotionally,
I am to this!
Or WAS.

Folks do not know what is going on!
They don't.

'And...
Neither do you! '

Oh...
'Contrare'!
Deliverer of misundertanding lip.
And giver of narrow insight!
I 'pretend' I do!
Okay?
The chocolate is in the pudding.
Live and let live.
That's 'my' motto!

Viva La Difference...
Homey!
Viva with a La...
And a 'diff-er-ounce'.

'Ooooh...
Oui oui.
N'est pas?
Merci beaucoup.
Parle vous français?
Je m'appelle Victor.
Et vous, mon ami?
Hmmm.
Tous et moi...oui oui? '

Say WHAT?
I know you did not just say that to me?
What?
What do you take me for?

'What are you talking about?
We need to learn how to love one another.
Get close.
That's my approach.'

You done cross the line now, buddy.
Let me say this to you...
And make it clear!
You and my 'wee wee'
Aint gon' happen!
You got that?

'Huh? '

Oh, huh, hell!
You better get outta my face before I call the police.
You homosexuals are all over the place 'assuming' stuff!
I got preferences...okay?
Amigo?
Now buzz off!

'You got problems? '

I got problems?
I got problems?

'Bigtime! '