Speak Your Mind

Written for contest and in honor of Human Rights' Day 12/10/10

When you can not understand,
you can remember.  Remember
those sweet mournful voices
that sang our blues in the cotton fields,
that dark golden skin glowing
under a sky that cried
"Set my people free,"
and the canopy of stars
that whispered,
"This way, this way," in the wind,
because nature will not be silent.

When you can not save,
you can pray.  Pray
for our millions of souls
out in the cold, while smoke stacks
billowed human flesh,
black smoke that choked,
"I still believe,"
and skin and bones
answered in tattered clothes,
"in good, in love, in peace"
because hope is not silent.

When you can not believe,
you can bear witness.  Witness
our childrens' shoeless feet
dragging across the desert sands
the air is filled with rifle shots
a thousand dead mothers sing,
"I will sing you to sleep,
rock you in my arms,
you are not alone, my child,
you are not alone,"
because the heart will not stop.

When you can not change history,
you can speak your mind.  Speak
loud and clear, scream and shout,
don't back down, don't hold out,
don't sit, don't wait
until it is too late, too late
it is time, the time is now
Speak your mind
don't let hate
win this race,
this fragile human race.

Author's Note

"There is an urge and rage in people to destroy, to kill, to murder, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated and grown, will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again."
- Anne Frank

Reviews

[H. A. M.]

I like the introduction to each stanza. It's a nice setup for what follows. The poem as a whole gives the impression that even if it seems you can't do anything , you can do something. I don't really have any writing tips for you. I thought this was good. Well thought and well said.

[Charles]

This is a nice poem that makes use of variable line length to enhance the reading. While there is a different subject in each stanza, the theme is consistent throughout. I think 'cannot' is a more acceptable form than 'can not.' I stumbled on the change of tense in the second stanza, but after reading it a couple of times decided it was a legitimate shift - still, it might read better to keep the whole thing in the present tense. Finally, I must commend and encourage the effective use of repetition in several places in the poem - adds a reasonable stress to the lines. All in all, good work.

At your request I looked at several other poems - very brief but refreshing insights... I particularly liked Heartbreak.

Whenever you want me to look at something, simply make a read request - in all but unusal circumstances I honor the requests.

[G. K. Bostic]

You say in your bio that you would like to, some day, be a good writer. After reading this, I would say you already are. This is excellent and speaks so well to the tragedy of the products of hatred.
The words from one of my very favorite songs, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me."

[.]

you have expressed a tough line of thought here
that many people have a hard time expressing-
i think this poem is a creative brave form of what
people to understand in this world-very impressive-
and just a strong beautifully expressed poem !!! :)

:)

[Liza]

I am currently reading Anne frank's diary; she was so in tune to the human spirit by tapping into herself. The gift of communication is for all of us to receive and give. "The paper has more patience than people" Anne Frank

[Angel's Lady]

Oh my God. I love this! This needs to be printed...on posters, on walls, in books, anywhere someone will read these words. You have captured, nay, given voice to the very essence of this problem that, unfortunately, still exists within the United States and around the world.

Can I post a link to this on my Facebook?

[mir]

Excellent write in speaking your mind through this well-expressed poem. Nice refence to Anne Frank's quote! I wish you success in this contest entry piece!

[Norma M Sutton]

Nicely said.