In My Hands

In My Hands

I find myself (ashamedly) spelling privilege as “priviledge” 

As if it were a sea cliff upon which to stand and look

At castaway people

Wearing salt-stains and blood-stains

On their skin.

Would I wave down

To them? 

Would I shout down

To them?

Would I find out what happened

To them?

Or 

Could I touch the rough cliff-edge with

My own hands?

Could I risk climbing closer and cutting

My own hands?

Could I see the marks on their bodies and look at

My own hands?

When I spell the word wrong

(which I do too often),

I see my palm’s callus-less whiteness

Callously clutching this pen

And yearning to spell it out

Conscientiously, 

Next time,

Could there be 

No next time?

It’s in my hands.

Privilege,

It’s in my hands.

5/31/20 - CT

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Really enjoyed this piece with its sharp imagery. We can all make a difference. Yes it is in the palms of each one of us to make sure that racism is eliminated. We are all human beings, residents on planet earth, brothers and sisters.

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Sight so weak that it sees no deeper than the skin is a blindness unto itself and discretion so fallible that it sees only a kinship of skin is moral poverty. There is only one race, the human race; all born of Eve, a single ancestor of all living mankind. That's not some high-minded proclamation of moral character but the science of DNA. We are all brothers and sisters under the skin, under heaven and in this world together. If we can't help each other along the way in life, what good are we, to others or ourselves? For equality to triumph we need to cherish individuality, individuality, after all, is the ONLY true freedom. But it seems those most vociferous in the outcry against racism are always the ones bringing it up. If we want racism to die out we should forget that it exists and after some time it simply won't. Because any flawed ideology needs to be fed to exist and without fuel for the fire, the fire dies out. But there seem to be multitudes dedicated to keeping racism alive through social division and feeding the fire with intolerance. It's true that ignorance and stupidity know no color boundaries. But then again, neither do compassion, empathy, kindness or intellect. Individuals make friends but groups dedicated to their own members make enemies and nations, on a larger scale, make wars. In the words of John Lennon, let's all "give peace a chance".

[Carina Baumert]

A beautiful read, one that really makes you think. Enjoyed the message it conveyed.

[Serene Star]

Most unfairness comes from privileges
And i miss spelled it lol

Its a fake leverage - that destroys it all for everyone
Really soulful write - i enjoyed reading you

[Rye]

such a wonderful read here, nicely done

[Beingofwords (Christine)]

Thanks for the kind words, Rye! :)

[Beingofwords (Christine)]

Sad to see your profile is closed?! Would love to read your work when you return..

[Carina Baumert]

How did you close your profile? I want to do the same ...

[Papaya]

Such a great message, Christine.
Especially now!

[Beingofwords (Christine)]

Thank you, Ana! Yes.. there's much work/healing to be done.. both personally and collectively

[Papaya]

You're welcome, Christine. Lots to fix, so right...

[Neville]

correct spelling becomes less important than the overall message one wishes to convey.. unless that is, you are compiling a coroners report... I enjoyed reading you today, no end my friend..

Neville

[Beingofwords (Christine)]

Truth! Thank you, Neville!

[Neville]

Happy Sunday to you ma'am :)

[Ruth]

Superb...cleverly rendered Christine, in light of current scenarios in the world and in light of poetic spelling this binds both together and is so well thought out :)

[Beingofwords (Christine)]

Thank you, Ruth :) Very much appreciate the attentiveness in your reading and review. Means a lot!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I think as poets we happily risk that cliff, and the blood cutting screams ...
we are privileged to do that...even as we peer over that ledge...knowing we are closer to it than others may think.
j.

[Beingofwords (Christine)]

Yes!!! Right on! Thanks, J!