On this President’s Day,
Let us remember that the Founding Fathers owned slaves.
They were not great.
The US of A
Was built on racism
From the very beginning.
That is how the Founders designed the system.
Category: poetry
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Snow
Sometimes there’s a lot.
Sometimes there’s not.
Sometimes it’s a wintery wonderland.
Sometimes it’s a frigid wasteland.
Whatever the case, snow is snow,
And it’s really cold.
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A Dream
He had a dream,
And that dream had not been achieved.
Not fully, anyways.
The lives of people of color
Have been made marginally better,
Comparing his time to now,
But it’s not enough.
Racism and colorism and injustice still run rampant
Throughout institutions and society.
It’s a systemic issue that’s been around for a long time,
Long before any of us were born.
In order to change things for the better,
We need to change people’s minds.
We need to focus on empathy, compassion, and kindness,
And we can’t leave others behind.
Incrementalism has marginally helped marginalized groups,
But it’s not enough.
To have long lasting and impactful change, it needs to be systemic.
The systems and institutions and societies built on racism and prejudice
Need to be fundamentally changed from both the outside and from within.
It will be hard, but it’s not impossible.
Material and social conditions that result from societal structures and institutions
Can be fixed, because societal structures and institutions are social constructs.
They were made by people; groups of people.
Thus, we can change societies and institutions for the better.
How that would be done, I have no idea.
But what I do know is, change starts from the individual level.
You, who is reading this right now, can be impacted by this post,
At least to some degree.
Liking it, sharing it, commenting on it, engaging in discussion from it,
All of that can affect people to some degree.
The same is true for social media.
Whatever your platform is, you have the power to change minds
And affect people’s lives.
So when MLK said he had a dream,
We can achieve that dream.
We can make the world a better place.
It all starts with you.
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Snowfall
Today’s the first snowfall
Of the winter.
Well, technically fall,
For the winter solstace
Isn’t until the 21st
Of December.
The snow,
It’s cold.
It’s white.
It’s crystals of ice
That fall to the ground
From the clouds above.
It’s water that’s frozen high in the sky
That falls down and covers the ground below.
Sometimes there’s not much.
Sometimes there’s a lot.
Depending on how much accumulates,
It may be possible to make a snowperson!
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Literal
What’s the deal with phrases?
Who came up with them?
Why are they used?
What about metaphors?
How about similies?
There are so many strings of words that people say each day
And it can be fun to analyze those phrases
And take them literally.
It’s something that interests me.
Our language is evolving.
Things change societally.
That’s why we should think about the things we say.
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Words
Words matter.
They have power.
They can empower.
They can make people cower.
They can help build towers.
They can help create showers.
They can be used to describe flowers.
You can use them for hours.
Words matter.
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Carry On (A Supernatural Tribute)
Carry on, carry on.
Carry on, my wayward son.
Your journey here is done.
Just like the Winchesters’ adventures,
Your journey comes to an end.
From here starts a new beginning,
One of many mysteries.
There’s no telling what will come,
But a new chapter has begun.
It may not be the same as the one before.
It may not even come close.
But that’s ok.
It doesn’t have to be the same.
Things in life always change.
You appreciate the good things when they’re around,
And when they’re gone, you be thankful they were there when they were.
It is hard to believe
That Season 15
Of “Supernatural” is coming to an end.
It was a really great show from beginning to end.
There may never be another show after it
That will live up to the Supernatural name,
And that’s ok.
The characters were great,
The story was great,
And the music was great.
On Thursday, November 19th,
The show officially comes to an end.
Thank you to the actors, writers, and producers of the show!
Thank you for your 15+ years of hard work and dedication!
The fans really appreciate it!
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Fly High
Fly high
To the sky.
Don’t cry.
Don’t die.
Goodbye.
Live life.
Survive
And thrive.
Be light.
Stand and fight
For what’s right
And be kind.
Then you’ll find
A light that shines
Through evil’s might.
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Community Care (A Post Written by A Friend)
One of my friends made this facebook post. I really liked it a lot, and wanted to share it on here.
“I just wanted to acknowledge that in times where the majority of people are suffering to some degree–layers of suffering–that it is both incredibly unifying and isolating. Why should anyone care about my personal gripes when everything around me is on fire, in crisis? What right do I have to need attention when I hold privilege in any amount? How do I have a right to suffer when so many more people have it so much worse? These are not new questions to 2020, but are valid questions nonetheless.
I think the most meaningful part about community care, real uncommodifiable community care, is that when we partake in it, we hold space for each other when we ourselves are suffering. No one’s needs and pain should be ignored. Your pain and exhaustion is valid, and you deserve considerate space to be held for you to release it all in a considerate way. Especially in a time where many of us cannot afford, cannot access, and/or have identities that make it hard to benefit from traditional professional psychology and therapy. Conscious of our privileges, power dynamics, pettiness, and places in the world, we may hold space for one another, assist in the healing of one another. We may create compassion and care where larger systems fail us–it has been going on for centuries on this land. Not codependence, but interdependence. Your pain is valid and weighty and difficult, and I recognize it. It’s hard to resist isolation when nearly everything and everyone is in crisis, but a better world involves trusting the love of those who know you + your situation, and letting them trust in you. It’s not easy but while we are tirelessly fighting for rights and life, it’s necessary.
I’m far from perfect at this, and am currently resisting the urge waste away into nothing alone, but friends, know I’m trying”
Check out my friend’s blog site!
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Sweet Sinners
I am just a sinner, man
But I’m sweet as cinnamon.
I am just a simple man
Who has a really simple plan,
‘Cuz nothing’s ever built to last.
It goes so fast,
Then you’re at,
A moment in life where you can’t go back.
Ain’t that whack?
I’d say that’s bad
But not as much as being a sycophant,
‘Cuz when you are one, then you can’t
Be your own unique person,
Or be the best that you possibly can.
You’ll defend the lies of a flawed human
Don’t fall for that.
You got to be your biggest fan,
Because even sinners can
Seek and search for redemption
And become great winners, man.