He shall then perform [the service of] one of the turtle doves or of the young doves, from whatever he can afford
Leviticus 14:30
I am not a communist, but I feel
everyone should have what they need
even if they can’t afford it.
I am not an anarchist though
I sometimes jaywalk when
no one is looking.
I am not an authoritarian, but
by God, my son will do what he’s told
or we will lock that Xbox down.
I am not a fascist.
Really. Not at all.
I am not a nationalist.
Call me a worldist if you’d like.
Or peopleist if that makes
more sense to you.
I am not a corporatist.
Whether you put plants into the ground
or put numbers into a thing
you should get to have the same dinner.
I am not an identity politician.
But if that’s how you identify
I’m all for it.
I am not a conservative.
Oh, the excesses, the indulgences
I’ve partaken in.
I may be a feminist.
It’s hard to tell.
I’m sort of a capitalist.
But I feel guilty about it.
I undoubtedly am a liberal
and a progressive – The things those
who aren’t those do often
hurt my stomach.
I am one who would rather
you keep your turtle doves.
Use them in your songs.
Let their songs distract you
from those things you are not.
May, like them, you fly.