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Friday, July 19, 2019

PRIVILEGE CONFERRED

by James Hamby


Graphic by Jesse Draxler for The Atlantic from a photo by David Hume Kennerly / Getty


What happens to privilege conferred?

Does it swell up
in narcissistic pride?
Does it demonize everyone
not on its side?
Does it trample to the ground
everyone who is poor,
female, or brown?

Maybe it’s too inept,
too incompetent?

Or does it become President?​


James Hamby is the Associate Director of the Writing Center at Middle Tennessee State University. He has been a finalist for the XJ Kennedy Parody Award and a nominee for the Pushcart Prize.