The Racist

The Racist

Born blind as 

        far

 

               as eye can see

You're all different.

            Just.

                       Like.

 Me.

Author's Note

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

funny how we see little kids playing together...all of them, not a care in the world and not a prejudiced bone in their bodies...then they grow up and learn it---from those who came before...we seem to have come so far since the 60's in some ways and yet not far at all...still the same old thought process...and your poem speaks to that concept...we are all different, especially those who have phobias against the others who are. I see the "born blind" more as born blind of the differences and then the eye sight and heart sight improves...in a bad way...and then we see the differences and focus too much on them...in a negative way...

j.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for your insightful reading of this one jacob ..spot on! i can relate to your inferences about the 60's ..i thought the same thing ..i must say that Holder and Obama did all they could to separate a divide i never saw .. i place a lot of it on their shoulders and other Dems trying to whip up the "base" ... so sad .. so false .. we will always have pockets of hate and fear that translate into a race/religion issue .. i believe that true love and prayer is keeping it small ;}
E.

[William Michael Reeves]

This poem made me think of a book I read when I was young called Black Like Me. Guy injected himself with a dye that made his skin black. A good poem gets the reader to think more words than the poem consists of. This one definitely did that for me. Thinking about racism and what does someone who is blind think about all our concern about melanin.

[Einstein Noodle]

sounds like a good book to have under one's belt .. you cut right to the chase sir .. what's all the concern over melanin ... i take 5 mg to "prepare me for sleep" every night and in me noodle i imagine it helps my keep skin cancer at bay .. i am a pale face who freckles and am at risk .. i'm going to think of that shot your author speaks of now each night .. love on ya brother .. thanks so much for another visit!
E.

[William Michael Reeves]

You got a typo in the brain. You take melatonin at night. Melanin makes your skin dark.

[Einstein Noodle]

in a minor way but it is a sleep aide as well ;) when Norma was still with me I told her it was putting color back in my hair ..... she just rolled her eyes :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[Delmar Cooper]

Who is not, afraid, I mean. I see a small crowd of young men near a corner, just ahead, just in enough shadow to moisten their skin. I cross the street, add a few steps to my route and when I come abreast, close enough to perceive color, "why they are just like me". I want nothing to do with them and hasten my pace.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes! we belong to the human race .. what we project sometimes gives the right impression .. sometimes not ... when I was in the Navy stationed in CA (60s) i and a friend went to a concert and decided to walk back to base. We found ourselves in a neighborhood that more and more had the street lights knocked out .. the store fronts boarded up and fear most assuredly hung in the air. ... we passed a group of men ... all black,,, berets and leather jackets and the cold glare would burn the burnt grease off an iron skillet ..we had good reason to be afraid .. the sign over the store door said "Black Panters" .. the next corner had a phone booth that was lighted and we had to call 3 or 4 cab companies before we got one that said they would come and get us. .. only when we assured him that the corner was lighted and that we were standing right there because if he didn't see us .. he wouldn't stop ... we emulate people sometimes .. so the outside doesn't reflect the inside for sure .. making some fears unfounded but understandable ... thanks again for stopping Delmar! much appreciated
E.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Satire at its best here 'E'. So strange how most of us see ourselves as unbiased until confronted with fear and anger.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes .. fear and anger .. mortal enemies eh!? ;) thanks for your review John .. always appreciate your visits
E.

[Rita L. Sev]

This is as simple as it gets - perfectly expressed. All "-ists" are indeed blind, and deaf, and equally different, and not at all comfortable with that part of themselves. Thus - the racist (agist, sexist, etc.) is born.

[Einstein Noodle]

hi Rita! yeah this one is pretty bare boned for sure ... in a troubled and wide wide world we forget the simplest of things don't we?! :( love and acceptance feels so much better...takes far less energy ..and makes us stronger ...we get so easily led astray ;{ so nice to see your face my friend!
E.

[Alfred Kukitz]

These people are locked in to the caliber of there rifles, the testosterone swirling in the chapters of same & different. Bravo E!

regards,
al

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks Bid Al! i so appreciate you visiting and reviewing ... sadly sometimes hate is extended in the barrel of a gun ...some i have met have no need for it tho ...ignorance is enough :( thank you again for taking time dear friend!!
E.

[Alfred Kukitz]

Your a sweetheart of a guy E!

[Einstein Noodle]

awwwww! man hug :)

[Ted Kniffen]

God help a world where we would all be the same. Who would we be. I suppose we all have our prejudices. I don't like squash...they're small and yellow and not at all trustworthy. There is infinite wisdom in your poem, E. Very wise you be.

[Einstein Noodle]

i suppose you only eat red things! .... :) thanks for reading and for lending a bit of humor to a (for some) difficult subject ..that there are people, especially in America, that continue to actually believe color of skin or spiritual belief is cause for persecutions..i say especially in America because somehow we are not expected to display this kind of hate .. in contrast to the horrors in the middle east going on ... the ignorance and misrepresentation of their professed "Religion" is appalling ... burning alive, cutting off heads, crucifixions, children in front of parents, parents in front of children .. so horrific .. and the outrage of individuals non-focused by our respective governments it seems .. as the atrocities continue every day .. God help us all says i! :( sorry sir... didn't mean to go off like that ..thanks for reading, reviewing and being my captive audience listener ;}
E.

[barleygirl]

Excellent observations that can apply so powerfully in our era of deep divisions! I've always loved the diversity of different people, so it's hard to understand why anyone would prefer to be amongst a homogenous group!?!?! Thanks for the subtle reminder to open our hearts (((HUGS)))

[Einstein Noodle]

hi barley girl ..i am happy you stopped to read and review ..you lift my spirits :) i think it is fear and insecurity that drives, corals and keeps us in a pen ...hating ... very sad indeed .. and dangerous at times >:|
E.

[wordman]

it`s only in our minds,we all bleed the same colors

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks wordman! always appreciate your reviews .. they are important to me ... it seems so baffling how we nurture such destruction in our minds .. believing it to be the "light" ... the Bible talks about how deep that darkness is :( peace and joy my friend!
E.

[FOih;]

As beautiful in its simplicity as it is in its message.

[Einstein Noodle]

M!!! where have you been??? what a fine surprise to see you had visited ..don't know how i missed your commenting last month ... i hope this means you will be writing and posting and reading more in the future .. :)
E.

[Jimmy Yetts]

Jesus said something like, the poor we always have with us.
Racists we will likely always have with us; they should neither be overemphasized nor, most certainly, joined.
Still, as long as they bring no harm to others, I believe people are free to think what they wish.
Excellent bit of work, E

[Einstein Noodle]

how true how true my friend ... i agree with you that this world is not for being a utopia .. its a test .. respect for differing opinions a must .. i also acknowledge that some opinions are holding a poison (like racism) and has potential to strike and damage ... i only guess...but the hatred in racist belief will never be harmless ... education and strong parental ethics taught early on are bulwarks against it ..really appreciate your review Jimmy ..you have sparked me brain to pondering where my morning coffee failed ;))
E.