Saturday, July 29, 2023

no offense, please!

"And they took offense at him."  Mark 6:3b

we applaud when you
stare down the very wealthy,
challenging them to give away
everything they have to the poor,
but then, when you turn to us
with that raised eyebrow, we
offer you a finger while tightly
holding on to our privilege.

we smirk as you tell stories
that discomfort the comfortable,
that put pins in inflated egos,
that topple the powerful off pedestals,
but when you dip into
your bag for those parables
about pious, pompous progressives,
we stick our buds in our ears
to listen to podcasts that affirm
our protected prejudices.

just because you are so good
at offending all those we find
well, rather reprehensible, 
doesn't mean you can turn
that mirror towards our lives,
thank you very much.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

 

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