pick a political party and make it the source of your sense of self.
develop a loyalty that triumphs what you have for your country. 
adopt the us-versus-them mentality towards other young people
even though you all sit in the same cell, it doesn’t matter,
the goal is to be liked by the wardens. 

find a politician,
call him your leader and mentor.
enjoy the spoils of his loot
and pretend to be blind to that which fills your belly.
learn how to lie, lmao! I mean defend 
on most days, those two will share the same bed.
oh, and also, criticize others eating from the same pan as him.   

Behind drawn curtains,
adopt the “this county will always be the same” mantra 
roll up your sleeves and indulge in all the things
that keep our society stuck or move it backwards
then publicly (heavy on the publicly) cry about how deeply you desire change.

Bio: Malcolm LL Smith is a Liberian poet writing out of his apartment in Duport Road. WHERE DO TIRED BODIES PRAY?