Defensive Accounting

I know my place in America
(At the intersection of Tenuous Street
And Hired Immigrant Worker Alley)
And accordingly keep a low profile

A modern traveler on the inside,
I keep my bags packed and not too heavy
With stamped passport at the ready
Settled roots foregone, I travel light

The burden of this mask of civility
Weighs heavily on the mind. I'm so weary.
But whenever I deign to remove it
This country serves me a cease and desist

It's all unpaid labor, this emotional homework
The mental accounting performed by this intern clerk
When faced with these periodic restructuring activities
How to balance the books with so many liabilities?

Defensive Posture, a playlist

A soundtrack for this note. Musical protection. (spotify version)

• Protection by Massive Attack
• Baby I'm Scared of You by Womack & Womack
• Take Care of Your Homework by Johnny Taylor
• Protection by Gregory Isaacs
• Take Care of Homework by Full Force
• Baby I'm Scared of You by Leela James

Timing is everything
Observers are worried

File under: culture, observation, immigration, perception, civility, perception, wist, strategy, USA, race, displacement, Observers are worried, Buyer's Remorse, poetry, toli

Writing log. Concept: June 09, 2005; March 26, 2021