Labelled Boxes

Photograph: Sharron R. McMillan

Boxes… labelled boxes,
Conservative, Liberal, American, Jew, Baptist, Aries, middle class,
Irish, poet, rich, poor, white, green …
we huddle together in the box we are most comfortable in
because we are the same,
we belong.
It is comfortable and safe
until a different box empties near ours.

‘They’ try to fit in, we reluctantly make room.
‘They’ are different. ‘They’ are not like us. It is uncomfortable. It is ‘their’ fault.
We must show them how to change in order to be acceptable.
Remove your label. Put on ours. Promise to be committed, loyal.
Show us that you are. Do what we do.

Don’t ask questions. Don’t complain or criticize.
Don’t suggest we change.
We will enlarge our box to accommodate you.
We will help to make it comfortable and pretty.
Just stay inside our box, wear our label and you will be safe, accepted, loved.

You don’t want a label?
But you must wear a label!
How will anyone know who you are, where you belong?
You don’t belong in a box?
You think you are larger than any box we could put you in?
You dump out boxes and destroy labels?

You are dangerous!
We aren’t safe with you around. We must rid ourselves of ones like you.
You are not loyal nor committed.
You are a rebel, a trouble maker, a shit disturber.
We must destroy you.

Here is our label for you,
“Jesus – King of the Jews”
and a borrowed box to bury you in.

©1986 Sharron R. McMillan