The Poetic Political
Fumings of a Feisty Feminist
Making waves of change, one poem at a time.
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I wish I knew what to say,
But how does one express Sorrow Anger Frustration Pain Fear And love? It’s a jumbled mess of emotions Weighing heavily on my heart. So potent, I feel it on the hairs of my skin I taste it’s bitterness in my mouth A constant reminder ringing in my ears And tormenting my soul In anguish, I cry beside you. Feeling… Helpless, Hopeless. In less than 13 hrs, America suffered at the hands of two mass shootings, taking the lives of 29 people and injuring far more. As I struggle to put into words my emotions, I found myself writing this poem trying to find a way to connect with those who grieve with me.
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Goddammit
Fuck this shit Turn on the t.v. 20 dead. Wake up 9 dead. Fuck your guns Fuck your extremism Fuck you. We are better than this We give a damn Even if you don’t. I was numb after hearing of the third mass shooting in a week in the United States. My emotions were overloaded between the fear, frustration, anger, intense sorrow, and disbelief...my body went numb. I decided to focus on one feeling, the strongest feeling: anger. For those who know me, they know I rarely swear. Their jaws would be dropping to know that I wrote this. Poetry is art. Art is emotion. This poem is as raw as it gets. I can't describe it any other way. The news is devastating
Victims evacuating Police investigating Media disseminating We’re left speculating President understating Politicians refuse legislating On gun laws regulating Intensely Infuriating Bullets annihilating. As we’re left waiting Three mass shootings in a week. Countries around the world are warning their citizens not to travel in the U.S. because it is not safe. And yet, our Republican politicians continue to blame everything from Obama, abortion, and drag queens. This poem is a continuation of "Waiting". We’ve become the idiots
We’ve become the fools Do we really think it wise To let him make the rules? We fear one day our government May rise against its people Oligarchical oppression ‘Cuz it’s dangerous and evil. Our government spends billions On weapons every year Yet we think our guns will save us From political mutineer But our guns won’t do a thing To stop these massive weapons A feeble, foolish hope Towards governments’ transgressions. Yet we cheer on this same leader To build a bigger wall That traps us and contains us We’re the biggest fools of all. For if we ever need To flee this domination The wall would be our fall And end to our salvation. “I couldn’t see his soul”
When I saw him face to face “…The History of Evil” As bigotry’s embraced. I wrote this poem after reading the news quoting the rabbi who looked the Chabad of Poway Synagogue shooter in the eye and said, "I couldn't see his soul", and the family of the shooter claiming their son was "A part of the history of evil". https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-48095998/rabbi-describes-seeing-synagogue-attacker-i-couldn-t-see-his-soul https://www.npr.org/2019/04/30/718563232/part-of-the-history-of-evil-parents-say-of-alleged-california-synagogue-shooter “Thoughts and prayers”
When no one cares To try and solve the problem. Children killed Lives unfulfilled The guns become an emblem. Souls torn apart By their broken heart Drowning in a deluge of tears. But ignorant in action From an arsenal attraction As they send their “thoughts and prayers.” New Zealand’s darkest day
As 49 were murdered By ignorance and fear When hatred was asserted. Killed for their beliefs Lives ended way too soon. Our hearts are torn apart His actions we impugn. Helpless and frustrated That fascism is to blame. Dozens killed and slaughtered Solely as a game. “They are us” We are them If only we could learn. It’s not too late to change But for them there’s no return. https://www.npr.org/2019/03/18/704671790/new-zealand-pm-ardern-urges-her-nation-to-make-gunman-nameless That gun ain’t your penis
So stop treating it that way. I think you need to know That it’s really not okay. It doesn’t need protected. It’s not a flag to wave To prove that you’re a man An excuse to misbehave. Be strong in your ability To think like an adult. Be brave enough to see That life gets difficult. Intellect to realize That guns aren’t the solution. To change this toxic creed We’ll need a revolution. Half a trillion dollars Spent each and every year By our military government To intimidate and fear. Your guns won’t stop the bombs Or the tanks that they could use. Your guns don’t stand a chance I hope you can deduce. If tyranny should come Your guns won’t make a dent. Our Constitution must evolve It’s rather evident. But, ignorance is deadly. Stupidity is fatal. Combine the two to see Our destiny is fateful. “Shut up and Pray”
Is all they can say As they sit on their ass People slaughtered en masse. Close your eyes and don’t look Get’s them all off the hook. Then say that they’ll pray A nice religious display. Their halos are falling Regulations keep stalling. Neglecting their job Because of their god. Don’t try to fix it Or declare a limit They leave it alone Be sure to condone Yet families destroyed As they try to avoid Gun policy headway. Just “shut up and pray”! https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/royals/kellyane-conway-tells-media-to-shut-up-and-pray-for-christchurch-shooting-victims/vp-BBUT2U7 Leave this road to us And stay in your lane. Give us guns galore And no one to blame. We leave bodies behind As we travel this path. A warm, bloody trail In our aftermath. Doctors be quiet You know nothing about Owning a gun And the fear that we spout. Just stay in your lane And leave us alone. As we shoot our bullets You’ll reap what we’ve sown. Photo by Trauma Surgeon Dr. David Morris I wrote this after reading about the NRA telling doctors who spoke up about gun violence to "stay in their lane".
Politicians offer prayers
Yet resolve to take no action So please… Stop the insanity As I yell with piked profanity FUCK YOU! Fuck you and your prayers While you sit upon your ass Chew your nails.... Twiddle your thumbs.... ‘Cuz you can’t change the past. But you can affect the future So others won’t have to die But your balls are in a vice So why the hell even try. You give us the middle finger Every time you blow us off But the winds of change are coming As we scream, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” Are we actually that dumb
Are we really that naive Do we honestly believe A gun’s the only thing Protecting us from government That may come for us some day It’s 600 billion dollar budget And massive arsenal cache But you hold your guns real tight If you think that just might work I’d like to think realistically In this world that’s gone berserk Your guns won’t do a thing When a bomb is being dropped But rather an educated people And the morals we adopt Will do more than a bullet To guard our country’s safety Our brains against the brawn Of the Army, Air Force, Navy What will the NRA do When their hour glass runs out Grab their guns and shoot us Or sit in the corner and pout? Their empty threats mean nothing To a country that’s had enough Of their bullshit paranoid dribble It’s time we call their bluff. Our voices are more powerful Than their military weapons And our votes will make our country No longer one to threaten. As they scramble to divide us America learns the truth Of their Russian manipulation We’ll finally save our youth With stricter regulations And gun laws we enforce Politicians paid by the NRA Will no longer be endorsed. Don’t pick a fight with us They’ll never win this war Now that we have learned The NRA's a Russian whore. I wrote this poem after seeing the NRA's latest knock-off video "Time's Up" https://www.nratv.com/home/video/dana-loesch-has-a-new-show-coming-to-nratv
and multiple stories about Russia's ties to the NRA. http://www.businessinsider.com/nra-russia-ties-scrutiny-alexander-torshin-butina-trump-2018-3 and https://www.npr.org/2018/03/01/590076949/depth-of-russian-politicians-cultivation-of-nra-ties-revealed 17 bullets to the heart
Each one a young life taken More guns don’t fix the problem The politicians are mistaken. How many more must die? How many more must suffer? When loving thoughts and prayers Are all you have to offer. These senseless killings persist While you sit idly by “The Constitution says…" “Our hands are tied….” As you pocket the NRA’s money. The dust has cleared. We see you now. We’ve come to know the truth. Your silence is for sale As you neglect our youth. No longer will we suffer We won’t be torn apart. America’s soul has taken 17 bullets to the heart. I wrote this poem after reading an interview with one of the survivors of the MSD high school shooting in which he says, “The community just took 17 bullets to the heart.” That phrase struck me. https://www.npr.org/2018/02/16/586616026/students-who-survived-florida-shooting-want-politicians-to-know-theyre-angry Standing in our classroom
We hear it… POP! POP! POP! Confused at first, But we quickly realize. My heart pounds frantically. I think of my family. I think of my classmates. My teacher tries to save us. POP! Why is this happening? Who is doing this? Make it stop! Make it stop! Where do I go? What should I do? Now I hear the screams. The sounds are overwhelming. Tears stream down my face As I wonder if I’ll be next. Make it stop! Make it stop! Under my desk is too small I just don’t fit. I find a table But there’s no hiding ….from the barrage of bullets Quivering cries. Scared and startled screams. POP! POP! POP! Make it stop! Make it stop! We’re only kids. This isn’t how it should end. Why? Why? Why? Please stop! Please stop! POP! POP! POP! Then silence… As our politicians send their prayers. I wrote this poem after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting that killed 17 high school students. I tried to put myself in their shoes in an attempt to understand the immense emotions the students must've felt. Knowing we could've tried to prevent this and the realization that this won't be the last leaves me sick to my stomach and feeling helpless. For now, I will write...and vote for change. |
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Poetry by: AsherahAlthough she was selectively edited out of the Bible two thousand years ago, she raises her voice for women today in hopes of a better tomorrow, as she makes waves of change, one poem at a time. Archives
May 2020
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