Mass Anger Mismanagement

we are angry at the grocery store, we rage alone in our financed automobiles

we are incensed at our inability to control even our own stupid feelings

our lack of control scares us enough to keep a pistol close beneath the car seat

we cannot swear, we cannot fight, but our resentment festers deep inside

mad that we are failures by the glib advertising standards that they force-feed us

our long sought-after calm shatters in a violent hypertensive instant

there is conflict in the predawn traffic, we awaken bitter late at night

heated disagreements brew during the happiest of family celebrations

diners are at each other’s throats while seated at their supposed leisure

people calmly riding bicycles gesture obscenely at the passing traffic

there is swearing at the televisions and the opinions on the gonzo radio

arguments erupt into violence over short walk fast-food parking slots

family members remain enraged for days over trivia they had forgotten

strangers grow too close, too quickly, in the bonds of instant violence

workers nurse bitter resentment and smilingly attack each other’s backs

sweet little mommies command replicas of paramilitary vehicles to shepherd kiddies

we hate the crowds that we must fight, we hate the fact that we are sheep

we resent being controlled by faceless, spineless corporate billionaires

we hate the perfect television roles that we can never hope to play

we despise the weakness and incompetence we perceive within ourselves

things heat up when we are drinking and domestic violence erupts

children push our buttons and become subjects of hysterical abuse

tax and spenders infuriate us with their godless fuzzy maths and junk science

so-called conservatives upset us, greedily slashing & burning everything in sight

fundamentalists rear back with the righteous wrath of god within them

ordinary people reflexively react to the latest gov’t bogeyman advisory

the middle-aged fume against those who have no cares but still have beauty

the young despise their worn-out elders but covet their possessions

the crowds are driven like the jews, for everything must be done in a hurry

the slightest inconvenience and it all goes up in anger and uncertainty

we break things if they don’t work right and call them dirty names

even sorority girls lay awake nights plotting revenge over a multitude of slights

retirees rant about the newspaper and then just try to take a few deep breaths

endless mental replays ensure that we can neither forgive nor forget

we rage about things that do not even affect us and that we absolutely cannot control

we raise blood pressure while relaxing with chants of woulda, coulda and shoulda

our children watch us hyperventilate over issues trivial and unimportant

and wonder why we castigate them when they raise their voices

men often think that killing something would bring them great relief

then, at certain times in our self-reflection we are shamed by what we see

the blindness and stupidity of other people almost drives us crazy

the more we dwell upon some trivial incident, the angrier we get

our path must be truly trying since we find that we must flail our docile pets

sometimes a simple stoplight can bring on suicidal regrets

just the sight of neighbors bringing changes to the place we live

might throw us into a state of rage we never truly comprehend

impotent husbands angrily try to control every move their spouses make

this merely a reaction to the helplessness that they know so well inside

children lash out at each other even before they learn to walk

when they are just a little older we teach them how to kill for real

surely anger is our natural state since that is how we find ourselves most often

therefore, heart attacks and strokes must surely be, measures of enlightenment

our anger must be well inbred, just look at the dogs that we have created

a Lab will never bite you, but never trust a pit bull

the angry man is a survivor, he kills and then he mates

thusly do his genes live on, but he dies full of violence, hatred and resentment

getting mad about being so mad is quite maddening in itself

then after anger overflows, there comes this stupid sense of guilt

still, despite our best intentions, we observe ourselves at it once again

trapped in a damned and miserable cycle, continuous and out of control

we despise those who are like us and hate those who are different

we resent the strong, revile the weak, and hate the old and the young, as well

voices on the telephone are quick to grow impatient

misunderstood intentions bring on anger which harms our relations every day

there are quarrels in the churches, factions struggle in the government

brothers stand against one other and strangers bond in instant hatred

attitudes are cultivated with an eye towards antagonism

opinions are expressed with an eye towards spurring conflict

opposing groups are brought together and baited like bulls and bears

deliberate attempts stir up controversy merely to provoke a nasty spat

we have these wars on poverty and terror that we must all take part in

and this guerrilla war on science and education that we will surely win...

politicians often tap into sources of public disaffection

pushing buttons to manipulate opinions and to reap emotional votes

fueling up on caffeine and dissatisfaction we go forth to fight out our daily lives

late at night the best can only mumble in confusion, sadly asking for forgiveness