Poems by Shurland H. Aird

TO BELIEVEIN YOUR BELIEFS

Before I became a man my beliefs were those of a child. I believed in Santa but I never wrote him a letter. I knew there was no Tooth Fairy but I still left my tooth under the pillow. I believed my parents when they said I was special, but I got spanked anyway. I believed I was a good boy, but I also believed that I was bad because I liked boys. As I became a man my beliefs were challenged. I believed that all men were created equal. But equal to what? I believed I could go anywhere, but I wasn’t the right color. I believed I was intelligent, but I was not always smart. I believed in my trust of people, but many have disappointed me. I believe I could say a lot more, but not in an hour.

Shurland H. Aird

UNHAND ME

Unhand me, release me, set me free. Unwrap those chains that bind me. Untie my hands. Loosen that rope around my neck. My legs, my legs—they need to be free. Let me step out into the world. Let me breathe fresh air into my lungs. Damn it! Open up my prison cell, the cell that has been my whole world. Give me the keys to a life. A life without bars— Like race. Like sexual orientation. Like poverty. Like homelessness. Like AIDS. Like abuse in all its ugly forms. Like myself. Fire me from my job as a self-doubter. Unhand me. Release me. Set me free, Damn it.

Shurland H. Aird

YOU, YOU ARE BLACK

Yes, Black. Don’t you feel the vibes? No, I don’t mean the regular vibes. These are vibes of the day. And they are vibes that you cannot feel until you get to know yourself and what you really want out of life. That’s right! We get to that familiar topic, but one that is not discussed at any real length or depth. Don’t you think I know about life? Well, let me tell you a little about life: life is victorious and life is disappointing— cruel, yes, but gentle at times, humorous, sometimes with an inner sadness. Be alert. Life is alarming. Life is soothing, with death on its shoulders. But then we stop and say, “But wait!” Life is Death and Death is Life, because we approach both with the same expectations, the same anticipation, and the same measure of wonder. But don’t be sad. That is not my purpose. Just think about it on occasion. But don’t let it rule your life after all. Life is what it’s all about.

Shurland H. Aird

MONEY

I like money. I don’t worship it. I don’t crave it. But I like it. I spend it as fast as I get it. I look forward to the day when I get it. I sometimes worry about it. I sometimes wish I had more of it. I have inherited it. I have found it. I have won it. I have squandered it. I have lost it. I have given it away. I have had a good time with it. I have gotten fucked up on it. I have never, however, stolen it. I have never lied for it. And someday I will have no more use for it.

Shurland H. Aird

TRAPPED

I looked at the animals in their cages at the zoo— trapped. Trapped and condemned to a life behind bars. No matter how big their cages are, no matter how much grass and trees and ponds they have to roam on, they are still trapped. Confined for our pleasure. So we can watch and study and probe them. We say it is for their survival. We say it is for the betterment of mankind. We say a lot of things. We convinced ourselves that we are right and that we are doing the right thing. I feel trapped. Trapped in a world of HIV/AIDS. Trapped in a world of hatred. Trapped in a world of loneliness, of bigotry, of thievery and skullduggery. Trapped in a world of my own making. Should we free the animals? Should I free myself? Why do I continue to imprison myself? Why do I continue to deny myself visitors’ rights? Why do I build bigger and bigger cages for myself?

Shurland H. Aird