Knock It Down

sorrow

Heartbreak 

over a loved one.

Heartbreak 

over her country 

this

is a new one. 

It doesn’t matter 

how many tears she sheds

kicks

screams

and hates the opposing.

It doesn’t matter 

She is powerless 

powerless to change the minds 

of the ignorant 

of the prejudice

Powerless.

Equality has come so far, you say

is that what you see from your white perspective?

take a step out of your skin for a moment 

peel it off 

    for all I care.

Heartbreak 

over her country.

Heartbreak

over her city. 

Disgusted 

in the people

she shares her home with.

England

you’re picking your name to pieces 

taking the branding iron

and giving yourself a whole new one. 

How can she smile 

How can she laugh

when there’s a little Romanian girl

being subjected to racism,

xenophobia

in the middle of school.

Knock down your delusion of superiority.

Knock down your belief of us and them.

Knock down the wall you have built around your mind.

Knock it down.

Knock it down.

Knock it down.

Author's Note

This poem is messy and out of rhythm; a reflection of England at the moment. I can't begin to express the sadness I feel over the events that have unfolded here recently. The atmosphere is toxic. There's a huge void in the world and in my heart and I cannot see, at the moment, how it can be mended. Will it get worse before it gets better? Will the name be tarnished forever? How do we bounce back from this mess? I'm confused and angry and even this poem doesn't do justice. It's like screaming under water.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, there are many wondering the same thing your poem expresses....i think here in America...many of us are wondering what is happening in our country and if those who used to respect us are just laughing behind our backs...

pertinent and well expressed write...

sometimes "out of rhythm" is the perfect form, when the content is about being totally out of rhythm.

j.

[Kirsty Woodward]

It's an odd feeling to feel like the world is laughing behind your back. A global scale of paranoia.

Thank you, Jacob.

[PhoenixDown]

you’re picking your name to pieces
taking the branding iron
and giving yourself a whole new one. " - excellent

This poem is loud and its voice is needed. "screaming under water" - I can empathize with that feeling - makes me painfully melt.

[Kirsty Woodward]

Thank you, Phoenix. So much appreciated.

[Davidgeo]

When reality is indigestion I know it can be a b***h to swallow. But do not fret... you're bloody England, it's not over yet. The world is not today, it almost always isn't. The Uk is dying, but England isn't.

[Kirsty Woodward]

Reassuring Hans, thank you.

I'm not sure if you guys will be seeing it but there are horrific clips circling at the moment of Brits abroad being verbally abusive towards refugee children. A man was verbally attacked in Manchester recently and had a beer thrown at him purely because he's from a different nationality. It appears the result of the EU referendum has given permission for the small minded to go on a racist, xenophobic rampage. There's more. This is just a glimpse of the reality here right now.

[Davidgeo]

This appears to be cyclic. Throughout history nativism gets absurd and then it quells. This seems ugly in that it is appearing everywhere across the western world. But I think it's just western globalization overexposing itself. In 100 years, I bet it's all fantastic.

We'll be dead of course.... long dead.

So do some drugs and bang the dude that makes you horny.... we're probably going to be dead before it gets better. F**k this historically bad timing.

[Kirsty Woodward]

I leave the country in two days for two months but I won't be able to keep myself from watching what's happening from across the ocean. In the meantime I guess I will just write about it...

[Davidgeo]

Indeed. Have a good time regardless, some say we serve the state but I say the world tells me jokes. Drinks could be cheaper though....

[H.L. Cerveise]

I enjoyed your poem. As far as I am concerned you have no need to worry about it being out of rhythm. Like you said it is, "...a reflection of England..." and I so agree. Life is messy, and you should not try to show that muck with a pretty, prim and proper poem.

Well done.

[Kirsty Woodward]

That's a very good point. Thank you, Cerveise.