WEEDS

They are flowers too once you get to know them

I was once a plant, my kind once

flourished in the fertile valley of Cush.

‘Till my ancestors offended the gods

From the Garden of Eden we were banished.

 

In Canaan my descendants settled,

and we were giants !

Then the Fig Tree came,

divinely favored, they claimed the place.

From the Promise Land we were evicted.

 

In remote outskirts of Serengeti

Among lions den, I have been sown

From the stalks of my hands the wildebeest fed

Here I found my place, I called it home.

 

But tranquil life was short lived as morning dew.

I've been uprooted, my family too.

We sailed the ship of Amistad

To a foreign land our seeds were scattered

Some rebelled, some escaped rather than be shackled.

 

For eons my kind wandered like gypsies

Vagabonds we lived and slept in tepees

We scavenged, thrived in hedges and mountains

Sometimes displaced in your favorite garden.

 

I have been labeled, branded as nuisance

Your hatred and prejudice fuels resilience

But one day, my kind will be the answer --

Global famine, starvation, cure for cancer.

 

I am not who I was, a weed I'm not
Just a misplaced plant ...

by NeiL ArandA 12/17/2013

 

Author's Note

" We see things not as they are but as we are " - H.M. Tomlinson

" Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by education; they grow there firm as weeds among stones " - Charlotte Bronte

" I have a dream that one day I will not be judged by the color of my skin but by the content of my character " - Martin Luther King Jr

" Fig Tree " - The apple of God's eye
" Canaan " - The Promise Land
" Cush " - Part of Garden of Eden where 4 rivers ran through, near the river of Gihon
" Amistad " - Slave ship

My first ambitious attempt to write in free verse or free style. This piece is open for any interpretation and critique.

Reviews

[Ghost of Jupiter]

wow, this is a brilliantly deep and fantastic poem Neil! You speak of so many topics that I can really dive into, I feel that being a weed, is the best compliment anyone could give. As you have stated above, being a weed means that one has been able to grow in an environment perhaps foreign, where they have had to fight for survival. Weeds are quite lovely in my opinion, they produce some of the most beautiful blooms. I adored this poem, Neil... well done!

[NeiL ArandA]

K you're giving me so much undeserved compliments. If it impressed you I take it as a compliment. I'm glad that you could feel and relate to the plight and situation of the Weeds. They though somehow resembles the struggles of the tiny moth or butterfly inside a cocoon trying to break free. The Weeds struggles to find its own identity and place in a world filled with people who looks down on them and marginalize them because of their color, race and creed.

[Ghost of Jupiter]

It is a heartbreaking situation when people are too closed minded and do not see people for who they are inside. I see where you have tied our previous conversation about the struggles of the butterfly with this piece...quite clever, and of corse you are talking to me in terms of my beloved fluttering winged friends. Through all this I imagined a beautiful monarch landing on a gorgeous flower, bloomed from what is considered a "weed", but is a flower just the same.

[NeiL ArandA]

Ha Ha absolutely clever K ...I'm glad the butterflies are not choosy to which flower they would like to land and associate with ..

[NeiL ArandA]

All weeds need love, all plants, are creatures of our universe.
I think you did outdone yourself with this withy clever piece of writing my friend....

Those who never assume, are the strongest... you know it. :)
Beautiful quotes, well moral lesson, great phrasing, I can't read this one over and over again...
You've something Dutch in your blood? or what? (talking about morals) lol ;) love to you dear one...

- Elis xx

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks Ms Elisa for the read...

[Pax]

This piece takes me back to the old days, the old civilizations, perhaps I could say the prehistoric ages. Maybe because at that time, perhaps human never bother on cultivating, and where garbage was never a problem, because I think at that time all we used and eat are somehow organic.

Besides that, humans now took care so much on segregating the unwanted. Weeds are considered as undesirable and almost in line to the consideration to be pest. Now look at us, we take much effort on taking out the unwanted, we took charge and used some nasty chemicals. And in realization to all, these so-called unwanted plants thrives in change because like us, they too learned to adapt.

Now going back to the point of this piece. I cannot forget the proverb in our dialect: “masamang damo matagal mamatay.” In english Bad Weeds don't easily die ~ and now that I have think about it, it doesn’t necessarily applies to a bad person, you can just rephrase the proverb into. Weeds don’t easily die. In all cases, anyone or anybody can be a weed, and I meant the characteristics of a weed. All weeds are not necessary bad, I think they just go with the flow of nature. Growing to where their plant spirit goes.

I am not who I was, a weed I'm not
Just a misplaced plant...

~ this ending quite nice, and a very strong end I say. Many times in my mind, that I feel I don’t belong, a misplaced person in the crowd of different people. But to think about it. Nothing much is misplaced in this world. We are here for a reason, a choice we partake – and a cause and effect of the consequences and actions we do. Due to all the differences of our characters, we somehow think many of us are misplaced, then many of us judge, many of us complicate things on which respect is gone. I believed a home is where our heart is. And our heart is a very complex mixture of many emotional journey.

I give you a short story based on what I perceived on this piece:

Somehow in a beautiful garden, a plant steps its roots in there for a reasons, even though most of the plants there think that this plant is a unwanted weed. But in many months or years this plant never stuck its roots to other plants business. Maybe because this plant values its own roots and own life and not disturb the natural ways of other plants. It grows and grows, and somehow over time it gives natural elements that provides fertilization to other plants. In the realization of the other plants, they can co-live together in harmonious ways without disrupting the natural cycle of their lives. And there life goes on as it should be, they flourish in helping one another with careful respect of each individuality.

I really like this piece my friend. You should keep writing.

[NeiL ArandA]

Pax , You have blown my mind away. This is the first time I have seen someone really give one of my piece that much thought, time , and pondering. I could tell that this piece really made a deep impression in your mind and heart and I value that. Such deep and profound analysis...I guess working and living in a different and far away place other than our own homeland really makes it look like where misplaced plants sometimes trying to exist and making a lot of sacrifice for the sake and future of our family and love ones. At some point in my life I felt like a weed..when people misunderstood you and resents you for who you are and where you came from and just simply because your different. But because we know just like the weeds our " humble beginnings " and how we're brought up. We just ignore and laugh at their utter ignorance. You read my thoughts, weeds are sometimes labeled as " Bad grass " who doesn't just die or go away easily . From their stand point Pax I see the plight of the less fortunate people. During the Mount Pinatubo Eruptions I saw and witness the displacements of Aeta's and witness how they were looked down by so many people. They were treated and labeled as weeds... an " eye sore " . It broke my heart to witness such cold and harsh treatment. Such indifference towards another fellow human being. Perhaps that is why, maybe I came about this piece... Pax I don't know how to thank you but you did good justice to my piece. You dissect and analyzed it like a buffalo chew its cod. I'm honored and enamored.

[Pax]

Indeed, it did my friend. I never knew that story about the Aeta's treatment. It is sad reality my friend. Too many indifference, tends to affects us so much. I can imagine how strong the Aeta's were to experienced such scrutiny. sigh... i feel glad that you like it, i am touched by it's subject matter. You're very welcome my friend.

Paxie my brother rocks on this review.....

[NeiL ArandA]

I do agree Elisa...He dissect this piece like a surgeon

He does... he's brilliance, and I love him!!! ha! he knows....

[Pax]

wow, thanks to both, hugs, I am just very overwhelm of this piece great perspective. :)

Hugs lovely Bro, I was too.... you spoke all out what I couldn't ... ♥

[jacob erin-cilberto]

others think of us as weeds, maybe...because we are different or are more I numbers...the elite shun us like arrogant roses sticking their noses up in the air.

but we know what we are worth...and will continue to flourish whether they accept us or not.

nicely done.

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks Jacob...indeed we all feel and empathize with them ... Its open to the plight of anything and anybody that has life and breath who struggles to regain their identity and make a descent life. Everyone should be given equal opportunity and dignity . I value your thoughts Jacob...

[Tom]

Indeed a pertinent observation, even the much maligned stinging nettle has medicinal and therapeutic qualities! So grasp that nettle and purge those prejudices, all are equal in the eyes of the creator !

An inspiring, wholesome poem, penned with imaginative compassion !

[NeiL ArandA]

Hi Tom ... I appreciate your clever notes. You have perceived its hidden potential. What if the things that we really hate and considered annoying holds the key to every disease, cancer, alternative to Genetically Modified Foods...Thanks my dear fellow poet for your visit.

[Tom]

Everything has a purpose & you're most welcome indeed!

[Frieda P]

Misplaced plants need love too, this could take on so many meanings, I love how you tackled an age old problem here, very unique.

[NeiL ArandA]

Ms Frieda you perceived the heartfelt cry of the weeds . Thanks for your kind thoughts and input .

[Frieda P]

My pleasure Neil, have a great New Year.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Very impressive verse, Neil. Your poetry seems to be getting better by leaps and bounds Great job!

[NeiL ArandA]

Wow thanks Ms Joyce ... doesn't come close yet to your Dragonfly . LOL . That's my favorite piece of yours . Thanks for stopping by ...

[Joyce S. Greene]

I think this one goes well beyond "Dragonfly, " Neil. That one was written just for fun - no way near as intelligent nor meaningful as yours!

[Christyn Jeffries]

Just saying, in the story of the garden of Eden there is only one God so "the gods" doesn't really make sense.

[NeiL ArandA]

Christyn ... very keen observation . It will drastically affect and alter the dynamic of the poem. My whole point is to capture and present the origin and journey of the weeds with some historical facts and biblical elements . I minimize who they have offended . The Fig Tree believed in One True God that ka why they were highly favored over the weeds .

[NeiL ArandA]

The plight of the weeds are similar to your story I Have A Dream by. MLKJr

[Christyn Jeffries]

Oh, I see now. Thank you.

[Rita L. Sev]

This is a great metaphor and a powerful poem, Neil. Beauty thrives, even if it is called "difference"...

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks Ms Rita just a product of a wild and weird imagination . lol Glad ulike it

[Sami Khalil]

"I was once a plant, my kind once

flourished in the fertile valley of Cush.

‘Till my ancestors offended the gods

From the Garden of Eden we were banished."

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks brother Sami for the grammar correction

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure...Any time...:).....................