Brainwasher

You said I was trained to be a brainwasher

Over a happy Thanksgiving dinner

I heard you argue that I’m the villain

You laid your accusations with conviction

You said I’m converting them to robots

You had no hesitation to share your thoughts

As if I dabble in mind control

Well, sir, I’m not sure the last time you had a teacher

But let me share with an abundance of care to make this fight fair

I was taught to share the joy of learning

I was told that I must stretch my earnings

To give these bright eyes what our leaders can’t afford

I was taught to engage their beautiful brains

To free them from their chains

Of missed breakfast, a lost pet, or a broken home

I was taught to show them they aren’t alone

I learned to look for the closest escape route

How to make the best of a blackout

Safety as a feature, not a bug

I learned how to use my own body to absorb the shock

I learned how to make sure the door can lock

I learned how to scrub stains out of a colorful rug

I learned that no matter what I do there will always be people like you

Who criticize and compound while we practice our lockdown

This poem isn’t perfect, and frankly you don’t deserve it

But rest assured this is true: I’m not the one who has been brainwashing you.