The Picture

A glimpse of me...maybe?

I'm a girl who pulled herself up from the projects

To queen of her trailer park

Baby on her hip, cigarette on her lip

full of dreams, void of hate

Yea, my parents often wondered what happend to me

I don't think the black man is out to get me

or the mexican is taking my job

And I certainly don't believe my step daughter is going to hell

for loving another human being

I believe in equality

That's ignorant, my daddy said

But I would secretly listen to King

I would study Ghandi

I would read Frost and Emily

And I would leave my family

Who had in their treasured family album

A portrait

Of the black soul

hanging from the tree

 

Reviews

[.]

well I can relate to this..really..I came from strict Irish Catholics..imagine when I came home unmarried with a brown baby LOL - but my little girl is the apple of my fathers eye..racism is fear rapped up in hate and ignorance..once you face the fear you have nothing to fear after all..brilliant..

[Cherry Blossom]

You so took a risk on this and its wonderful to change where you come from and really make it with or without family help you did amazing job love it

[Talkativeted]

A great poem. Well done.

[...]

. you're the one who had the brilliance to make a difference ... to cause a change ... a transformation ... in thought and action ... with your immense gift for poetry ... and your almost scholarly study of human biases ... and equally scholarly pursuit to break out of them ... the narrative is detailed and riveting ... learnt lots ...

[Crowley]

Besides being a great piece of writing, this has a very profound point, the point at which an entire lineage changes.....old paradigms are lost and the new thoughts and tolerances are passed on from that point forward. I loved the image this invoked and the comfort of the writer with self. This was as refreshing as they come. Nice work.

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

you've left a trail of shivers the length of my back~ I have always insited that we are NOT the product of our environments if we CHOSE not to be once we are adults and free with the reigns in our own hands~you have taken that thught and fleshed it out with a human heart that beats to its own rhythms~ I adore this~the strength~ the clarity of statement~ the raw and beautiful honesty!~

[deeps]

Baby on her hip, cigarette on her lip
full of dreams, void of hate

I so loved these lines here.
This is a wonderful write. Yes I see strength in this as well.

[Robyn]

this is a poem of great strength. it takes courage to stand up for what you believe
beautiful

[Tony]

The human race has enough problems. I see through words like this that most people would be in agreement with the author.
So how is it that racial divisions concerning blood and church and land are 'breaking news' every time I turn on the Idiot Box?
Good words from a purposeful and loving spirit is what I see here.
Refraining from participating in behavior or attitudes that we know are digressive, regardless of consequence, is a mark of a rational person.
I would also say that I like how much thought can be provoked from work like this.
Well done.