WHATEVER COMES (for Poets United)
Whatever you think about me
I am human
I have feelings
Feelings that have been stomped on
or caressed
depending on the person and circumstance
I am an American from Europe
whose white skin
and heterosexuality
and youth in the suburbs
gave me advantages
over those who weren’t dealt the same cards
or even given cards from the same deck
I am a woman who still doesn’t have
the same Constitutional rights as males
but who can vote and speak her mind
who doesn’t have to wear a burqa
who doesn’t risk being stoned to death
because she dared leave the house without her husband
I am not threatened by TV personalities
who admit they don’t believe half their hate speech
(they are just doing what their sponsors tell them)
who have no degrees in journalism
(one a college dropout, the other a deejay)
They don’t speak from their hearts
but from their wallets
and they freely admit it
Sure, it’s mercenary and incites violence
But it’s a living
Powers of such as these are limited
only by the willingness of their listeners
to be sheep, to blame the least in our society
for their current woes
(this time it’s Mexicans and gays; last time it was Jews;
before that, Armenians, before that…)
When Jesus was surrounded by “unclean” street urchins
he told the disciples not to chase them away
but to let them come closer
He didn’t want them deported to another town
He didn’t call them unclean or unworthy
He didn’t charge co-pays when healing the poor
He acted out of love
He also raised a ruckus
that resonates to this very day
for to love one’s enemies is an almost impossible task
and to love one’s neighbor,
harder still when he brags he ran them over,
but they were “just Mexicans”
Jesus was hung because of words
and all his words were loving
If our poetic world was only Whitman, Dickinson, Dickens
bereft of Ginsburg, Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks
how poor this world would be
Provocation is healthy
What makes one’s blood course faster
makes one’s mind more nimble
Sure, I get provoked
But I stand by my right as an artist
to call out powerful hate-mongers
Plato banned poets because
he claimed they drew their inspiration
from imaginary worlds
Those of us who draw from the real world
do so in the name of justice
of compassion for the Other
regardless of religion or color
regardless of the consequences
in spite of whatever comes
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
woih
For me to type the word ‘gratitude’ in response to this would fall tragically short of what my heart aches to express to you.
“for to love one’s enemies is an almost impossible task”
..I was locked up for doing just this;
…infectious is what they called my love. They, of course, thought it to be damaging to my peers. I felt it was infecting them with choice, love, compassion and truth.
Thank you from the depths of my heart.
Not simply for writing this, but for being a person that lives a shade closer to truth and love.
Dennis Welch
Sharp Little Pencil
Dennis, this was a touching response. Please feel free to email me and tell me more about your story. I’ll send an email to you, and if you wish, you may reply there.
Blessings and peace, Amy
Giovanni Cucullo
Wow! That pencil of yours stops me in my path.
You are a most righteous woman and I thank you.
I recently read “Love is the Killer App”, a wonderful book about how corporate America needs to inject Love in the workplace and manage through Love!
I am also reminded of a quote I think you’ll appreciate…
“Jazz became the symbol of crime, feeble mindedness, insanity and sex and was under constant attack from the press from the early 1920’s on…it is ironic that we preserve, study and enjoy a music today that was felt to be insidious and lascivious only yesterday.” – Frank Tirro
Gio
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, jazz was considered subversive; later, Elvis (who, of course, stole his style from Black musicians, but then, so did the Beatles) and all rock ‘n’ roll. Now seniors in nursing homes ask me if I know “Hound Dog”!
Giovanni, I truly value your compliment. You are a wonderful poet and I will keep visiting you. So glad Jingle hooked us up! I’ll have to find “Love is the Killer App” because it’s the least we can find our way back to… love, for each other, unconditionally. And you can demonstrate that anywhere, even as the CEO tries to find ways to pit workers against each other and piling on the work so that there’s no time for social interaction. Bless you, G. Amy
Mary
A very strong poem with so much to think about!
Sharp Little Pencil
Mary, my dear,
You are one of my touchstones, like Leesa and my compadres at Poetic Asides. Thanks so much for this. Peace, Amy
leesis
As usual Amy your words inspire. They remind me there are others caring out there. Thank-you
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, Leesa, having been inspired by you often, this is a wonderful compliment. And yes, there is SO much hope in the world, as long as we all express it. You never know when the person standing next to you is an optimist until you engage them… but then, quite often they’re a pessimist, so that’s an interesting moment, LOL
Amy
Diane Truswell
So true! Beauifully written.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Diane. I’m glad you stopped by! Amy
Bob
Your blog is appropriately named I must say after reading your poem, but it’s all true and sometimes we have to face it and deal with it or things will never get better. Thanks!
Sharp Little Pencil
Bob, thanks for the comment on the name of my blog. I’m an activist, so I figured since I take on so many social justice themes in my work (and do have a bit of a sarcastic streak!), it was apropos.
It’s hard to think about the world without thinking about those who have less than you, so sometimes you have to speak up, huh? Thanks for visiting, and I’m sure you are much more than YOUR blog name implies – see you over there! Amy Barlow Liberatore
Jingle
inspirational words…
insightful and beautiful word play…
your work informs and is pleasant to read.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Jingle. Playing with words is something I have always loved. I’m even an insufferable punster. Get me together with my friend Joe and you will groan ’til your stomach hurts!
I’ll check in with you again soon. Glad you also found it informational, since activism “R” us… Amy
Jingle
got you email,
never mind..
when I do invitation, I don’t want people to feel bothered, you are super positive….
you crack me up with your daring joke…I would not crawl from under your bed, giggling now…
that’s it.
I am fine. it is a matter of politeness…
have fun!
Carrie Burtt
Love this Amy…such wisdom here, and well spoken. Thanks for sharing it with us. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Carrie, thanks so much for visiting. I’m going over to your blog now to investigate your writing! “Wisdom”? The jury’s out on that, but if you say so, I’ll take it! 🙂 Amy
SenderUpWords
This is a crakin’ write. Amazing. For some reason this song came to mind as I read it…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr9MAWAXZAY
Love and Light, Sender
Sharp Little Pencil
LOVE the Dead Presidents, Sender, and thanks for comparing my words with a great song. Capitalism is slavery, indeed. Even Ben Franklin reluctantly signed off on the Constitution, saying they would need to revisit this in the near future; otherwise, all the power will end up in the hands of the landed and rich. Ain’t it the truth? I’ll catch your blog now! Peace, and remember, as long as we have clothes on our back, a roof over our head, food to eat, and FRIENDS, we are rich. Amy
Eileen O'Neill
This has been an amazing read. So informative, so true. The time when all will be right, has not yet arrived, sadly.
The issues which make sense to so many, are still outstanding.
An excellent response to the Poets United Promp.
Eileent
Sharp Little Pencil
Eileen, thanks so much for stopping by! I wasn’t sure what to put forward, as I’m a first-timer, but everyone has been very kind. Will stop by your blog as well.
The issues are indeed many, but I have faith that if we all work hard and put the pressure on the Status Quo, we can get through this.
Peace, Amy