some of us

did not have life dished out on a silver platter, did not have a way out when no exit doors were in place, did not have to choose between swim or sink, publish or perish when swimming was a skill never learned, and so was writing. did not have options to go somewhere with smiles assured - the country club whose membership fee was exorbitant because customers matter. did not get that nutritious diet for lack of cold hard cash, did not learn basic manners for the family structure had fallen apart at birth, did use the scraps or whatever was left on a plate, did accept life valiantly knowing there is no back up plan, did sink, perish and then found that bottom feeders too can have their silver lining, did wrestle with unhappy faces, tired worn out folks with less choice - found grit. did relearn what diet was meant to be, pick sparingly, wisely. did face stares, offensive remarks for their behavior, tried to readapt. they had to right? i mean no one is coming to pay their bills, carry their baggage, solve their problems, it's what they own, it's what their burden, and something changes in the inside, a slap on the face, the face toughed, hardened, grew pins - it's the streets you know. and yeah … … many slipped into the gutters, into the abyss, without voice, without any inquiry, did continue the trajectory of falling, learned helplessness, became victims, saw no point in fighting, no happy transformation. and categorization loves taking anomalies, loves extrapolating, loves to magnify a niche, how do you think stories get told the way they are and seem so convincing? the did not have, they've seen it all, heard it all, for the dark corridors is where secrets are whispered, the loud corporate offices do not care when the door man hears something. so they continue what they always do, the alarm bell sounds, the baby is crying, it is the same boring routine - surprised at little, and you know what? for the most part - it works, they think, feel, process information on what life has been for them, and it is not peachy keen, it is not even remotely savory, it's a mess, it's where people walk away, it's when people stare hard, it's comments like good riddance, it's a mismeasure of life.