Boricua Poetry - part-time power and half-time blues

part-time power and half-time blues (anarchy in my heart)

tonight, i think i’ll declare myself an anarchist
yes, i think i think i’ll declare myself an anarchist
i’ll throw in the gloves
and allow myself to indulge
en tu bochinche
i’ll embrace my true calling
as an eccentric rabble-rousing troublemaker
a professional militant instigator
and a traitor to your revolutionary status quo
an insurrectionist iconoclast
who refuses to conform
to your extremist egotistical views
a crass, ungrateful, anti-social, insurgent
radical, rebellious, terrorist dissident
a selfish, lawless, socially unacceptable
anti-authoritarian provocateur
beholden
(as if that were actually possible
if i am to be a true anarchist)
to a political theory
that shuns
any governing and authoritative institution
as unnecessary
and which advocates for a new world order
based on the truly voluntary communion of free spirits
one which excludes any and all rules and power
and all established orders and, most importantly
the illicit exchange of money for services rendered
yes, tonight, i think i’ll declare myself an anarchist
cause i will never fit in
with my anti-social
suspicious
unorganized self
cause i’m just a part-time artist
living with half-time blues
working the man while he works me
for a dollar or two or maybe three
so i can afford to come here
and vent and offer my story
to those who won’t repent
but insist on maintaining alternate status quos
nouveau clubs and cliques, you know
no matter how progressive
are still all a part of the master’s plan
to which i today no longer subscribe
and so, i offer you this token gift
all i can afford right now
thirty-seven symbols of repentance
of my green envy and greed
take it
and don’t say another word
cause tonight may very well be
the last time i’ll call myself a poet
i may never again utter these words
(even though i have written since i first learned to hold a pen)
and even though i kept silent those verses until last year
only to be told
once again
that i’m not really down
cause i’m just a part time artist
living with half time blues
not quite up to invitations to your par[ty]
not quite good enough to make your grade
because i refuse to starve for the cause
you told me that when i tried to produce social change
you told me that when i took a turn at journalism
you told me that when i dabbled in community radio
and now you tell me that i can’t be a poet
because you want to take me down
to sooth your bruised ego
and because you feel threatened by this
who-the-fuck-does-she-think-she-is-anyway bitch
but i’ve learned to walk away from such garbage
because i ain’t got time for your nonsense
because i’ve got seriously serious business to take care of
because i’m tired of walking behind you hoping to catch up
and as i will no longer follow anyone
and because i ain’t nobody’s leader
i think i’ll just walk alone
and you all will just have to wait until i die
to read what’s on my mind
cause this free ride is over baby
and i’m outta here

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