Do We Remember

[kimmyjean]

Do We Remember?

Perverted smiles with
Condescending tones
Apprehensive looks
Hidden behind their eyes

I must surely blame
For those who are not the same
My troubles and deceit
Can be rolled up
All tidy and neat

It’s them
Not Me…
This is the only way
It could possibly be

Culpability lies in “the immigrant”
For our own torment…
Never coming across
A manifestation that lies
Before us

Truth can set you free…
Lies will let you be…

Inhospitable terminology
Hiding behind their door
Avoiding human contact
Lacking of knowledge
Rankles within echoes
Of a past before

Progression fades away
As we stew in today’s foreplay
Hate mongers simmer their brew
As they nourish their children
With twisted thoughts…
…From twisted minds

Do we remember
A handshake and a smile?
Do we remember compassion?
Traveling that lonely mile?
Conversing with your neighbor and friend?
A cup of sugar
That you could always lend?

Rivers of hate run deep
Spilling blood upon our hands
Condemned for…
The color of your skin?
Condemned for …
The accent in your voice?
Condemned for
The partner you choose?

Multiplicity lies upon the curb
Imprisoning those who seem to agitate
White picket fences
Of a bygone dream
Blame games turning them wild

A man lays suffering upon our street
Walking over a huddled form
Ignoring cries for help
In a distance a lonely dog yelps

A sullen homeless child
Scouring garbage for something to eat
No one stops to care
As we walk in our life
Ignoring the pain
Of those in need

I can’t help you today
Please hang up and go away
We don’t so that here
Go away my dear

Is this an America?
That I can hold up in pride
Or have we become
Something to be
Ashamed of and hide

Do we remember Ellis Island?
Coming to a place with hopes and dream?
Where we were given opportunity
While respecting our diversity
Give me your tired, your poor…

Do we remember the words
Of Doctor Martin Luther King?
The fight and worth
For equal opportunity
Remembering his dream…

Do we remember?
A pilgrimage to Mecca
Where Malcolm X believed
Different races interacting as equals

Do we dishonor our ancestors?
And make two steps backwards
And shun
Everything they have done

Where did compassion go?
A question that we do not know
For when someone calls on you
What will you really do?

Truth can set you free…
Lies will let you be…

Do we remember?
A time not so long ago…

[davidmm]

Hello Kimmy. Welcome back.
just to inform you that things gave changed a little on Poetic Horizons snce last you posted here. We are trying to get members more involved in the board so we now ask that all members post a couple of comments on other members' work before posting new work of their own.
Your posts are still important to PH but we request that you join in the new ideas and look around and let others know what you think of their work as well as posting your own.
Please read the following link

poetichorizons.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=political&action=display&thread=2991

Thank you  .

[rocha]

Yes ...I think we do remember Kimmy.....and I am not sure much has changed since.
The struggle goes on....of that I am sure. Good post.

[jeannerené]

Hi Kimmy... good to see you.  Thanks David for the reminder.  We've had a couple of changes to keep up with the growth of PH and to encourage participation ..... not too many ...

Kimmy ... this is an excellent piece ... calling for examination into the core of beliefs as a nation.  Your recital of questions and observations all needing to come to the forefront of our need to heal and change.

Thank you for posting .... and I hope we will see more of you...

.jeanne.

[festus50]

Oh yeah I remember and it wasn't all that long ago when they had "colored" restrooms and "white" restrooms. It blows my mind to still see racism even to this day. Check out, INCOINTELPRO, google it and you will be amazed at the crap
J Edgar Hoover orchestrated back in the 60's and 70's. What I have learned about this country in the last year or so isn't pretty. "Oh, you're just a conspiracy nut Festus." No, I have awoken and I feel great. People need to wake up before it's too
late. Dag, this poem should be posted on the Statue of Liberty.
Dub'ya Bush isn't the only one that "lied" folks. The lies by our government go all the
back to 1776.

[kimmyjean]

Thanks everyone for your input and comments

Love and Peace
~KJ~