before the unicorn
becomes the spokesperson.
before all are honored
the same way
only white men once were.
before the poets
form a country club.
before the reading turns
into rage revival.
before the word
loses itself in words.
before verse
synonymous with propaganda.
before it all sours literal.
before metaphor solely
an escape route.
before we sacrifice humanity
for definition.
before everyone entitled
to pass judgement.
before stories silenced
by pedestal riots.
before self lost forever
writing for praise.
before the body
is taken from us again.
before you throw away
that folded love in cursive.
before you give up
on stating your raw
for future’s sake.
before you stop
letting the seep
of beauty
transform your
relationship
with the wind.
before
dictators make game
of way.
before cause
shuts the mouth.
before possibility
is only in poems.
From Well Played (Not a Cult, 2020) by Beau Sia. Copyright © 2020 by Beau Sia. Used with the permission of the publisher.