THE OPENMINDED CLUB

Walking through the doorway,

handed in my ticket stub,

beneath a flashing neon sign:

“Welcome to the Openminded Club.”

The room was warm with laughter,

light chatter filled the air,

everyone seemed so welcoming—

so open, kind, and fair.

Eyes sparkled bright with kindness,

smiles wide and free,

until the leader came right up

and threw his arms ‘round me.

“Welcome to our club!” he beamed,

“We’re quite a chosen crew—

inclusive, kind, accepting souls,

proud of our broad worldview.”

But then I glanced outside and saw,

past the frosted pane,

a crowd stood huddled in the dark—

cold, alone, in pain.

I turned and softly asked,

“Who are those out there?

Shouldn’t we bring them in?

There’s plenty room to spare.”

The twinkle in his eyes went dim,

his smile slipped just so—

“Oh, them?” he said, with a wave,

“They’re not like us, you know.”

They dress in color—the nerve!

Not like our black and white.

How can we accept them

if they don’t know wrong from right?

“That one? Divorced—for years!

A scandal, plain to see.

To sit among our married ranks?

It simply cannot be.”

“And her? Her toes are showing!

A hint of heel, no less—

What happens in her home, I fear,

is anybody’s guess.”

“His kid got tossed from school—

just think of the disgrace!

And that guy’s cap? It’s suede!

Only velvet in this place.”

“She wears her hair so long these days,

it’s something people note.

Around here, that kind of look

just isn't what we promote.”

“Nah, don’t mind those people,” he whispered.

“No need to make a fuss.

You’re part of the Openminded Club now—

so long as you’re like us.”