Be...

Art is at its most powerful when it asks us to think not just of ourselves individually, but as a species our place in the world and the society we are a part of.

Be

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

"You'll never be, who you're meant to be, until you just learn to be."

But who am I in this colored guise; devoid of cultural significance 

I am a product of generations past, 

a child divided in culture clash.

What has America cost me? 

What has she taken of me...

in integration?

I'm a second son of a third generation;

that has come undone.

And as lost as my native tongue 

In ghosts of heritage 

Lost of song

And of courage 

Assimilation was encouraged as a noble token

Disregard roots of heritage and language spoken

But my name is foreign; still stays the same 

Stripped of what defines me and I'm left with shame

But I see it in their eyes nothing I can say or do

Will ever change their mind on how my skin is viewed

And despite the fact I carry a heart just like theirs 

It doesn't really matter for they never seem to care

I am the wet-****

The spi*

The field ni****

But I'm also

The co**

The Chi***

The Red n***

The Ki**

The bit**

The f**

The les**

I am in all of these hateful words

For that is what your eyes tell me

While my heart says

That I am brave

For in the end

It is what

I

Choose

To

Be

True

To

Me

Author's Note

I had a dream...that within me were words ready to be expressed with profound wisdom and humanity that they would change the world. But when the time came to speak them I failed to even utter one single word. Remember this when you find your own heart seeking to express its truth and you fail to rise to that moment. Be true to your heart and the art that resides in you.

Reviews

[Soren]

Carlos this is a beautiful expression that rolled out like a wave crashing upon the shore. It speaks the truth, felt in the heart. It resounds and echos in the soul. We all come frome roots dispised by others. Some try to hide this and others are big enough to recognize it. We are all one, whether we believe it or not.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Soren for reading this earlier piece I submitted a while back. I could not have described the essence of this piece more eloquently than you have. At its heart it seeks to see unity in all of us despite what we may view physically the differences. We share innately common bonds of humanity. From the way we choose to love and the ways we seek comfort in friendships of others. Language can never be a barrier to these traits of commonality. We weep the same from loss of love, and smile iridescently the same in our joys. We must relearn to see ourselves simply as human and not categorize one another's differences. Because within this view of differentiation we continue to perniciously give voice to hatred. Recognizing only the outside while being oblivious to the inside...the true self. CLE

[Soren]

We all bleed red. Discrimination for me is not based on race, gender, or appearance but upon actions.

[Abon Hassan]

Wow!!! This is a beautiful declaration of bravery. It's hard to be an outsider, congratulations, that's a strong feeling of belonging. You'll overcome every barrier my friend. You are a warrior!!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Abon for your kind words. Being in my mid 50s I would prefer living in a world where no one should feel they need to over come any barriers due to color, gender, or love. Where humanity is all we see ourselves as. My generation has failed to live up to these aspirations unfortunately. It will be up to the younger generation to do so, and reflect our better humanity. It's incumbent on us as writers to guide them there in our art. To show they can be better than my generation. Thank you again my friend.

[poetgurl]

Goodness what a powerful profound piece.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for the kind comment on this poem I really appreciate it. Sometimes words such as these can be difficult to express as well as read. But they are meant to be hopeful in starting truthful conversations. Because healing requires acceptance on both sides of a conversation. Thank you so much again.

[Shannon O'Gara]

A very powerful and profound poem about today's society. I believe many in Europe, not just America, feel the same way. Too often we are shamed and made to feel embarrassed about ourselves, our origins, our opinions... but the most important thing is to never give in to this negativity. Instead, fight back and be ourselves, affirm who we are without being afraid of disappointing people. Because we can't please everyone in this world, but perhaps by speaking up, we can voice what others are too afraid to do.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Shannon for your thoughts on this poem I truly appreciate the kind words. And I totally agree with your comment. To sit in silence only encourages the hatred and makes it acceptable. One must always stand against hate.

[lessa (kenzie)]

America is beautiful if we look at her that way, some people just don't want to,
now as I look at this poem in another view, I can also see in how we treat ourselves.
I miss the way this world used to be, It is going downhill, because no one cares anymore.
I know in my heart, America is beautiful, one can make a difference if they want to.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Much like you I'm an optimist and have hope for a better world. My experience being born and living here is different from others much like their lives are different from mine. We are a diverse society that strives and struggles in our unity. We are by no means perfect but we aspire to be, for it is a core tenant in our belief of America. That all are created equal. At its heart this poem speaks to that search for equity and finding it in those that are persecuted for being different. The paths to unity are varied but the road is the same in its eventuality. I come at this from the profound perspective of being both of indigenous blood as well as European descent. The oppressed and oppressor. I love the hope that his nation inspires to other countries. It is also a hope of mine that someday we eradicate the hatred that still exists in this country. Because we will never reach our better angels until we do so.

[G. A. Bernard]

Love this work and even though I will never fully understand your experience as only those who live an experience can define it. I can listen and gain more insight which this piece has done for me. Thank You

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for your comment on this poem. America is beautiful because she is different for all of us. We each come from different places, perspectives, and ideologies with a single hopeful aspiration. At different points of our history we fail to live up to them. We fail to recognize our common bound in humanity. That in one singular purpose our diversity is what defines our greater unity. Our brotherhood is not specific to language, creed, ethnicity, or gender. It is defined by acceptance. Thank you again for your thoughts I truly appreciate it.

[barleygirl]

Your poem conveys the sensation that there's a war going on inside & outside. Excellent use of the name-calling list. Very thought-provoking writing. We cannot be separated from the times in which we live (((HUGS)))

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Margie for your comment and you are right in your observance of these words. I am of bloodlines that are both indigenous and foreign to these lands. My ancestors were migrant wanderers who traveled back and forth between the lands of the America's. And there is also a part that is of European ancestry that came and conquered these lands. My blood reflects a lineage that goes back centuries to this nation and yet there are those that have the audacity to say I don't belong here. Perhaps they are correct in that assessment because a piece of my descendancy that I share with them is as foreign as they are. I am both the hater and the hated. The war inside of me has no place. I must simply accept who I am and be who I am. For in spirit I have a unique perspective about differences in this perch I find myself upon. As I view this nation that is tearing itself apart. Incapable of seeing the humanity in each other that makes us all the same. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me.

[K writes]

Today's world isn't the same it used to be. Society today has gone down hill so fast.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

It truly has Kakey but as long as we have art we still have hope. Because with hope we can try to change the hearts of other people. I'm an old man and my generation is leaving behind a world filled with hate and anger. That to me is unacceptable and I refuse to leave this world by not speaking my voice and standing up for the future generations that deserve better. We are better than this as a society and our children deserve a much better world than what we are leaving them. We must be better for them. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me.

[Miss Sharon]

(we find ourselves as a society at the precipice of our own demise.) Your words speak truth my friend...sadly it is so. Excellent write. ~Sharon

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Sharon for the your comment I truly appreciate it. It is through our art that we strive to make a little change in the world somehow. We do this by connecting on a human level with our audience. By starting conversations that are difficult but in a way that welcomes individual perspectives with mutual respect. I strive to plead to a person's humanity an reveal who I am so they feel that they too can do the same. If we can't learn to see within each other the things that make us all the same then we have failed to aspire towards our better humanity. Like everyone here in this amazing community I want to write something of worth and value but most importantly something that touches the heart and makes someone feel for others who are different then them. To speak to their better angels. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me.

[Kathy Mc Cathy]

Being true to yourself matters the most , if u aren't true to yourself , just a clone of the society that wants you to be , what's the point of living after all , Deciding to be true to yourself is a big step all of us need to take .There are people out there , feeling the same you are feeling or even if they aren't , u can change people's mindset about the things , the way they are . A very profound effect with every word Carlos , i really liked this one ,
Love Kathy

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Kathy for your wise insight that carries much truth. Never have we come closer to darker times in the world than this moment. Where we find ourselves as a society at the precipice of our own demise. One that is self inflicted. One driven by hate and hubris. In retrospect we must look back to the past at all the moments that have brought us here. The path that was paved for us by aspirations of good intentions and a pledge toward our better angels. We are a nation forged upon a hope that diversity is a pillar of our strength, a foundation that unites us all in patriotism. Yet time after time instead of acceptance of brotherhood we have taken with greedy intent, enslaved, and nearly eradicated an indigenous people from their land. I hold a strange perspective because I am of two cultures. Part of my bloodline is indigenous to the America's and another is of the foreign conquerors of Euro descent. And yet in my own home I am seen by some as less American. Through assimilation I have lost a part of my culteral identity. The language and traditions of heritage like ghost whisper to me in order to remind me who I am. Who I will always be. In the eyes of some who hate me for simply the skin I wear, and by others who I do not know because of the things left behind that united me with them. And so I choose this path to be with the persecuted because in their bravery and strength they are uncompromising in their love for one another. This beauty of diversity. Thank you Kathy for your kindness and empathetic heart you share in your words. They are what defines hope.

[Kathy Mc Cathy]

Think of it this way , you are part of different cultures., You know better than anyone how it feels like to be in either one them , hate from people are just words spewed due to ignorance for something that is unique , different for the positive , those people are clouded by prejudiced thoughts and mindsets . You are definitely on the right path , each generation by generation , we as people evolve . There is now.some room for diversity maybe tom there will be more , this is just a clash of thought between generations and hopefully will be eradicated in the future . Thanks Carlos , those are just my thoughts