I'd like to shed
my white skin
leave it laying
shell like on the side
of the road
it embarrasses me
reminds me my black
grandpa isn't mine
proclaims arrogantly
rights and freedoms
like I've seen things
white girl like me
what do I know
about racism
and life struggles
threw back doors and alleys
if you see me
wave and smile, then
set fire to that shell of
papier-mache woman
Write Word Writing Club
This is also inspired by Spencer's short story on his AOL journal about hatred and racism...go read it.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I really do have a black Grandpa.
A nice peice. Makes you think...
ReplyDeleteI remember meeting you Grandpa, He was a very nice man. May he rest in peace.
Lori
In some far future day, when our children's children's children are all coffee & cream-colored, will there still be gradations? Will humanity ever change?
ReplyDeleteMal
Hi Christina... it's so true, honest and ... wow. I am out of words and breath. It's been a long time I have experienced this with a text. Great poem. Do I like great poems? YYYYYEEEEESSSSS! But it's not often I see any.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you and Cate 'know' each other by the way. She is a great, sincere writer and a very kind person, like you.
Hugs!
Ann Marie
Oh MY! What a powerful poem Christina!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow Christina, this great poem says so much and like so many things you write about, it needs to be said.
ReplyDeleteXOXOXOXO
MOM
here is Spencer's short story...but it is true, not fiction.
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.com/yeolecontractor/SpencersPlace/entries/1580
http://journals.aol.com/yeolecontractor/Spencers
ReplyDeletePlace/entries/1580
Subtle rattle of a poigant thought
ReplyDeleteEloquently crafted..
Jay
Pandoras box poems..good for the soul!
ReplyDeleteTJ
Very honest and sad.
ReplyDeleteXXOO
Write on and on and on...
ReplyDeleteChristina,
ReplyDeleteI haven't been ignoring you
just so hard to really say
how good it feels knowing you
feel then act just that way
We share a bit of this world
which includes a bit of knowing
its been a while since we met
back before we had some growing
So good to see you sensitive
but I wonder if you ought to be
so deeply affected the way you
expressed it here to me
But you write like I do
from the depths of your heart
which makes words penitrate
as if they were loving darts
Bless you, dear lady
Spencer
Spencer...
ReplyDeleteRacism has been a torn in my side since I first became aware of it in 1976 when I was in the fourth grade. An event I remember so clearly it is etched in my heart and your story only served to remind me of it...and of my grandpa.
That man loved me more than life and he taught me what a man should be, he gave me hope that good men are in the world. When I discovered that the world in general had a problem with him being black and us being WHITE...at nine years old I was very, very mad.
It will be my next through entry, my next thoughtful entry will be about my grandfather and what he meant to me. The passion you read is respect for you and honor for him.
And shame for the whiteness that has acted like jerks for centuries.
Oh woohoo!
ReplyDeleteWould you like to do the posting of the new pictures for Write Words..as many as you like??
Let me know.It's time.
This is really taking off and I am learning so much...I am loving this!!!
TJ
Christina & Spencer. Thanks for sharing. The two of you kindled something here.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
V