Seat at the Table

I have spent years trying to find

A seat at the table, only to be declined

To bring my own folding chair I have tried

To somehow inveigle my way inside

But the table always seems to remain

Out of my reach, I have tried in vain

To just keep on the table one hand

To claim my place, as I continue to stand

Even that much I have been unable to achieve

Fighting for a place at the old table is futile, I’ve come to believe

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There is a workable alternative-

Let us build a new table and give

An open invitation to people to claim a seat

Assemble a diverse group that can compete

With the old establishment, and create

A new playbook, that varied opinions celebrates

There should also be an ability reasonable

To expand, and add new participants to the table

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I don’t have a seat at the proverbial table

But to build my own, I am indeed capable…