Striding Upstream
Location
I am from the generation of the bold, of the touchscreen, and the fourth dimension
Read to by a robot on the interstate and a voice on hold
Spoken to from a chip placed beside my studded ear
Holding the control of the world with my fingertips on a screen
Speaking through a text without ever being seen
My ankles cram into high heels to accentuate my calves
Eyelids darken to give the allure of captivating innocence
Belly clenched tight for the shapelessness on a magazine
Breasts forced up from below to lead the public gaze astray
Face whitened with foreign creams every morning of every day
The children of my children will only use voice commands
Their wrist implants will take the place of credit cards
Eyeglasses and metal braces will be unrecognizable to them
Computer signals will replace the keys of homes of the past
Books and crayons will be told of only in stories, gone at last.
But no more.
No longer do I keep stride with the current
I break down these boundaries of the social rule
No more standing in the shadow of my skewed reflection
I free myself from the disguisement of my flaws
Showing the whole beautiful world that I make my own image laws!
I smile at strangers because it brightens our mornings
Laugh at my blunders and push towards self awareness
Messages I send are sent in the mailed with a stamp and signed with PS’s
When I give a compliment, I mean it and when I get one, I don’t roll my eyes
I avoid harsh judgement along with the pull of rumors and lies
I sketch in a notepad made with recycled paper
Spread out my own map when I travel the world
I lose the appearance of one who cannot be bothered
And instead welcome artistic critique and advice
I do not use the internet as an obsessive, powerful vice
When I speak to you, I say it aloud to your eyes
My bike carries me where my car used to drive
I learn with my hands, my feet, and my ears
Ask myself for an abundantly opening mind
And my reward?
Is that you are of my same kind.
Live Yourself.