Bordered Up

boundaries create lines
lines not to be crossed without permission
but before there were lines
there was free terrain
and the freedom to explore
travels, journeys, expeditions, explorations, discoveries, and conquests
these things were considered adventure

all with a freedom that didn’t create hate
separating people from their spirits and true natures
a freedom that didn’t thirst in conquering people and mother nature
a freedom that didn’t keep people out, thriving to understand, not dominate
a freedom that didn’t divide people based on color
what was color anyway?
freedom of seeking and destiny

new boundaries created artificial lines-
coveting land as if it became slave to the exploits of man
and these artificial lines bordered ourselves in and others away
away from humanity
away from familiarity, communion, and acculturation
away from understanding
away from empathy

now, bordering us within indifference
within seclusion and hate
aligning race, separating colors, and dominating genders
now to think of it
personal boundaries are both a luxury,
and an oppressive tool
a tool we ignorantly use-

hammering the sole right of each individual,
at the expense of growing self, and knowing others
without reflection and historical awareness on how the nature of these drawn lines, borders, and boundaries came to be destructive
as to create them with a higher mind
we just get caught up in our own bubbles
wanting to own space in a world that was created for us all equally

of course, there are personal lines that are deserving of privacy
but since I’m on the topic of boundaries and borders
they do give a good sense of safety
but also a compass of power and the powerless
but who and what do they keep us safe from,
and who becomes more powerful and powerless because of them?
well if I’m speaking directly, historically, currently, and objectively

we can’t adhere to the assented societal minimization of things making issues solely about themselves and their experience
because it creates an atmosphere of fear-mongering
responded to with attitudes of self-preservation
I just thought I’d shine a light on three groups of people here in America
three groups of people affected the most by borders and boundaries
at one point, this land that we call America wasn’t divided

and yes, times evolve

although we call it the United States of America, United amongst its separations
but money created the divisions in this country
This was the wide and vast terrain of Native Americans
where are they now?
a silent, forgotten genocide
they also warred, bled, and died for and on this land
the land of their ancestors

The Mexicans at the border used to roam these lands as well,
after all, the landmass was connected
where are they now?
trying to get in by any means, and being kept out by the border
they also warred, bled, and died for and on this land
part of the land of their forefathers
And a little bit of historical context,

Africans that had traveled, shared culture, and commerced within these lands that are split by borders
centuries later they were bought, enslaved, and brought into this land
charged with building it
where are they now?
freely oppressed with nothing to show for it

the very system creating impoverished and gentrified communities,
it’s constructed highways and intrusive corporations-
separating and endangering the poorer
taking even more land for itself
in the name of “creating jobs”
with perceptual biases keeping them further than arms reach from self-determination and ownership in many respects still in this country

a country they also warred, bled, and died for, and in
But spoils of war goes the boundaries
and up goes the borders
and down goes the communities
and away with civility and humanity
because I guess we as people are too pretentious and incapable at times
so inter-personality needs to be structured with borders

insert:
social distancing through social media, pandemics, workforce, legislation, and school curriculum
I wonder…
who was this land opened for during reconstruction?
like I know we say immigrants
but at what time of history
and what color of people did America loud horn- “bring your sick, your poor, your…”
well you get the message
In Trump’s words and world,
those people wouldn’t have came from what’s been considered as-
“shit hole countries”
my, oh my, how the times have changed