Three Word Wednesday asked us to create a poem using Educate, Object, Silence. Mine seemed to go toward the political side of the spectrum. Interesting that “object” takes both the verb and noun forms.
CONTROL
The object of failing to
educate our youth
is to silence dissent
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
QUESTIONING AUTHORITY
In opposition to corporate domination,
three options are clear:
Educate those around you
about the history of abuses;
Object publicly, speaking
truth to power; or,
Keep your silence, avoid roiling waters…
and wait for them to come for YOU.
(c) 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
deborah
Well written and brilliantly said!!
Sharp Little Pencil
THanks so much, Deborah. Very few found politics in those words – I think Sender and myself were on that wavelength… amazing what we all come up with, huh?
Peace, Amy
SenderUpWords
Interesting that we both took the political route from the prompt. Very nice Amy, very nice. Love and Light, Sender
PS. Do you really live in Attica?
Sharp Little Pencil
Sender, I was just telling another blogger that I had seen your poem and realize we were some of the only ones who looked at those three words and thought about politics. TWILIGHT ZONE TIME!
And yes, I live in Attica, THAT Attica, “Attica! Attica! Attica!” This town still suffers collective PTSD from that tragedy. Saw a great docu on NatGeo about the uprisings, but they didn’t talk about the incredible acts of grace, how townspeople took in worried family members of the incarcerated, how that became weekend tailgating hospitality for the prisoners’ loved ones, and finally, the first “visitors’ center” in NYS, a building where they could freshen up and even have their paperwork processed in advance rather than standing in a “cattle line” outside the prison gates, rain or shine. Even coffee and snacks, lockers where they could keep valuables, extra clothes in case someone showed up in an inappropraite (i.e. too sexy) outfit and might not be allowed inside. My husband and I are leaving Attica in Jan. for a new church in Madison, WI, but he has been on the Visitors’ Center Board and helped oversee staffing and the expansion into a new building.
The conclusion: Happier, less stressed visitation helps calm the incarcerated man, which ends up with less recidivism. Like, duh. But our church got it started through the actions of Rev. Williman, the pastor emeritus at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, who’s helped my first-time pastor husband in so many ways.
TMI as usual, but sending you love and light as well, Amy
Rinkly Rimes
Yes! These words cried out for political comment!
Sharp Little Pencil
Sender had the same idea. I look at the 3WW prompt and am either hit by lightning or sort of left twiddling my thumbs. This one really hit me! Thanks so much, Brenda! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Wow! Total zingers. I love the first haiku so much! And the poem is great too. You say so much so succinctly. Well done.
Sharp Little Pencil
Wow, was that a haiku? I didn’t even notice… I’m so unintentional on forms, LOL. Thanks very much, Sherry. Sending you starlight, Amy
Kim Nelson
Wisdom and sound guidance in both pieces. Way to go, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Kim, thanks so much for visiting! I was thrilled to find your work at 3WW and look forward, once our move to Madison is complete in Feb., to be a regular 3WW contributor, along with my “first blog,” Poetic Asides, which really helped me grow; Jingle, where the community has spread so wide, thanks to J’s generosity and encouragement; Big Tent; Sunday Scribblings (my latest foray); and We Write Poems – oh, and don’t forget Writer’s Island! The beach there is litter-free and the water’s always find. That plus my blog, oy!
See you soon – til then, peace, Amy
Ramesh Sood
This is what I call giving useful messages through one’s writings.. well done.. I like it..
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Ramesh. I’m an old hippie, activist from way back, so these words spoke politics to me. Amazing, isn’t it, that three simple words can bring forth such diverse responses in our poetic circle?
Peace, Amy
leesis
Amy those last two lines are awesome!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Leesa. I’m gonna stop by your blog and see what’s up! Merry, happy, starry nights! Amy
Jae Rose
‘Questioning Authority’ made me smile..both pieces fit together perfectly…like ideas that have been waiting to fall so clearly onto the page..Jae
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Jae. Sender and I both got political with this prompt! Thanks for mention of flow, because they were both coming from the same place in my heart… social justice!
Peace, Amy
Donna Hole
hmm, interesting observations. I like how well they worked together.
……dhole
Sharp Little Pencil
THanks, Donna. I’m gonna bop over and see what you’re doing now! Amy
Jingle
Keep your silence, avoid roiling waters…
and wait for them to come for YOU..
love EVERY SINGLE WORD OF your entry,
your talent is outstanding…
keep it up.
Sharp Little Pencil
I thank you so much, Jingle. I’ll be scarce the next few weeks, but come the first of February, WATCH OUT, WORLD! I’m on it! Happy New Year, hon. Amy
uponthewingsofnight
I really liked these two poems. The last two lines remind me of the last line in my poem Social Treason: If hell awaits, it waits for them. Great work, my friend!