On Hype

To tell the truth, We are all Ozymandias’s kids,

Believing in the presence of ourselves holding this Glory

that speaks as if it was a prayer,

Wanting to recognize the truth of who we are meant to be,

Speaking as if we deserve this kingdom.

Our imagination holds the microphone and

Brags about holding reality as if it was a gold chain

Not knowing the certain greenness that comes

From seeing what is birthed here and having to live with it.

I’ve seen men speak as if they had a crown

Not knowing it was already taken as the first words

Leave out their mouth and left no impact inside,

Spotlight themselves as the sun

And depart as a flickering light

If asked how they did, the phrase

“Not for nothing,

you did your thing,”

not knowing that thing becomes a costume

To the true disgust that was made here.

But let’s not focus on deprecation,

True beauty is the magic trick

Of not expecting something to happen

And see how it fits perfectly in this image

Of what we wanted to see

A blessing it is to contort the face into

A Picasso painting, shaped in head nods

Sing-alongs and grown man shrieks

Of disbelief that this can be real

Gaining the confidence to be something more

Allowing the body to follow the freedom and tenderness

It needs for itself, and as the audience presents itself

Your heartbeat follows their applause,

Every “Ayyy” is another reason you’re alive today,

Finding this truth after telling friends that I was starting a new job.

During a pandemic that desires black death

Hearing their excitement come to life

To hear good news, even if it’s not for them

It is one thing for excitement to kindle

There are levels of tenderness for the fire to speak inside

Giving another answer to why you need to live

To see the dream come true

To see what the hype was all about.