Layers

There Is Not Just Black and White But A Rainbow Of Layers To This Existence

Hasan Almasi

Layers

On layers

On layers on layers on layers on layers

Layers of emotion

Some suppressed to the point of miniaturization, though those tend to enlarge and get loud at the most inappropriate time

Some so loud they can be heard across the multiverse

Some covered in dust and dirt and grass from trying to bury them, only to see them resurface like a cork bobbing in the water

Some struggling to be heard and acknowledged, but it is so much easier to pretend they are not there

Expressed emotion, sometimes not believed by those you most need to believe them

So expressed emotion becomes suppressed emotion and the cycle repeats

Layers of pain

Part A hurts and part B hurts and soon part C chimes in

One part physical, one part emotional, all parts hurt like fuck

But there is no relief to be had

There is no special pill you can take

Because doctors are too damn scared to give you what you need

Unless you’re a white suburban dweller with good health insurance

Forget it it you’re a person of color with bad or no insurance, because to the healthcare industry you are just a drug seeking addict or plan to sell the pills on the street

So what if your MRI says you have degenerative disk disease, arthritis of the spine and hip, and a knee with a shredded meniscus

You’ll do just fine with acetaminophen

So what if you have PTSD, severe anxiety and depression

You don’t really need that ativan, so you can have 5 low dose pills to last a month

And you damn well better be grateful for that crumb they tossed

Layers of humanity

I always thought they were kindness, generosity and empathy

Now they seem to be selfishness, cruelty and ignorance

Did someone ban critical thinking?

Does humanity even know what critical thinking is anymore?

Violence is never the answer but those who are burdened with testosterone seem quite willing to kill and be killed

Genocide is never the answer to an absolutely horrific attack on a small number of people

Roughly 1100 dead vs 42,000 dead seems quite off balance

Layers on layers of sadness and sorrow and funerals and grieving and hatred of the other causing a new generation to vow to fight

Yet this fight is as old as time itself

Layers of truth

Is a lie a layer of truth?

Some would have you think so, but a lie is a lie is a lie

A little white lie is still a lie

Alternative facts do not exist

A fact is a fact

Don’t we teach our children to be honest only to have them watch our political leaders lie like their pants are on fire

We have even taught our technology to lie, with fake news and deepfakes and using AI to write a term paper

It’s all just so exhausting

But in the midst of all the layers is beauty

Beauty to be seen and beauty to be heard

Beauty in the birds in the sky and the bees on the flowers

Beauty in a child being a child, running and jumping and laughing

Beauty in the eyes of young lovers

Beauty in the eyes of old lovers

Beauty in the art at a museum

Beauty in the graffiti art on a building

Beauty in friendships, both old and new

Beauty in learning about another culture by sharing their food

Beauty has more layers than everything

If you just stop to notice it