Backstage Campaign

Some people don’t know when to stop,

nor when to leave, so they stagnate

in their vicious campaigns

to put themselves in the limelight, regardless of what’s happening backstage,

these narcissists with no shame

and unearned rage.

Let me tell you something about rage—

Once it starts, it doesn’t stop,

it has no shame,

doesn’t know how to stagnate

or stay out of sight backstage.

No, it is compelled to campaign.

Some people can’t simply dislike me; they have to campaign

against me, kindling my rage.

You might not see me eavesdropping backstage,

not understand why you should stop

letting your jealousy stagnate

you and drown you in shame.

What a lousy feeling, shame.

It starts small, grows to the size of a presidential campaign,

taking over the airwaves, making hope stagnate

before disintegrating into rage

that nearly makes your life stop,

pushing you into the shadows backstage.

I don’t belong backstage

cloaked in shame,

so I make it stop,

end your campaign

of senseless rage

too shallow to stagnate

I know the place where the river slows until it stagnates.

I know what it takes to succeed backstage.

I know, too, where the river rushes in rage,

why you feel so much shame

that you had to run a campaign

to make your idea of me stop.

Now I watch you stagnate in shame

and run your backstage campaign,

too saturated with rage to know when to stop.