Do you see it?

By Bobbi Johnson

(Dedicated to Bryon Genaw…who sees it)

You believe you can see, your vision is good

Your awareness is keen and reaction is remarkable

But, do you see it?

* * *

You can get to work, by whatever mode of transportation

And complain about conditions, gripe about incompetent management

Whine about the money

But, can you see it?

* * *

At home you rest, cold beer and the television

You think about what you want and then money you don’t have

And you get pissy because it’s never yours

You never get what you really want…material possessions

It’s always out of your reach, a bum steer

But, will you ever see it?

* * *

On Christmas and Easter you dress very nice

You run to church like good little Christians

Who are you trying to fool…God?
Don’t you think He sees beyond that bogus veneer you put on

Protestant, Catholic, Jewish or Hindu

Or you like to chat ‘Hari Chrisna’ in the airport

But yet, you still don’t see it.

* * *

You get in your car and drive to the store

Coupons and checkbook in hand

Your bitch about prices and long waiting lines

And after purchasing hundreds of groceries

You still end up going to McDonalds for dinner

Because dinner should be quick and easy

Hell, life should be one great big Burger King

Quick, easy and constantly having it your way

Heaven forbid you must wait two extra minutes at the drive-thru

Fries can’t be cold or the ice in the pop shouldn’t melt

And yet, you simply won’t see it.

* * *

What does the American flag really say to you

A bilious piece of material of garish colors

A symbol of taxes, oppression or governmental bullshit

You watch it ripple in a warm breeze

Or notice the monster one hanging at restaurants

Ever notice it’s sometime companion

That smaller black flag with a face

It says POW/MIA-You are not forgotten across it

It’s not a secret society or have odd, gesticulating little handshakes

It’s a marker of the painful, unsolved mystery

But still, you just refuse to see it.

* * *

So I’ve ranted and raved and probably made no sense at all

Because I’m sure that you really don’t see it

It’s a little thing which most take for granted

And something that cost this country dearly.

* * *

Don’t you understand yet… No, I don’t think you do

But that’s ok, don’t worry yourselves after all

More kids can leave home and die in a skirmish

And the ones that return can face ridicule and scorn

At your hands, your looks and your tongues.

* * *

Why do they do it?

MAN, don’t you know yet?

They see it because they don’t look with their eyes

Shit, they have to see it because you simply won’t

Its Freedom…baby…yeah, Freedom.

-----------

Don’t look with your eyes…look with your hearts

Because Freedom, like respect, must be earned.