Open Poetry #34 |
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Dignity defeats Prejudice [an long-ago littlewing challenge...] |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart ![]() |
Dignity defeats Prejudice How well he manipulated The narrow-minded Curves and twists of petty ways In which his mind perceived Injustice, particularly when it was pointed At him, like a teacher’s ruler from Third grade, when he first learned to hate. Especially as injustice blew Toward him, like an advance of swelling surf, As a hurricane of bigotry blustered in. He would redden at sounds of voices So unlike his own; accents he could neither Comprehend nor colors he could see through, As the blistering red necked its way Down his spine Stiffening his resolve Toward intolerance. A gentle hand would lay itself On his arm Again As if to influence the redness to calm itself, Quietly saying We are all God’s creatures But that would only incur more vehemence In his white light of trite retaliations, And it is difficult indeed, When dignity seemingly cannot dent Intolerance. But she knew, if she were truly incompatible To his deeper opinions Which were hidden by prejudice, He would have stopped Reaching for her dignity. |
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© Copyright 2004 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
Ericc Member Elite
since 2003-01-31
Posts 4178 |
Powerful. Eric |
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littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
*smiling here, Kari* I know this one well and you, m'lady as always, have far surpassed the intentions. |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Yanno Kari, i have to say this is one of your bestest ![]() I wondered though if you left out the Caps at the beginning of every line, I just feel that it jars the flow (and you have do have a good flow going)slightly. But you know me, I hardly use Caps and perhaps I'm the one with the problem ![]() Just a 'lil sample of my thoughts... How well he manipulated the narrow-minded curves and twists of petty ways in which his mind perceived injustice, particularly when it was pointed at him, like a teacher’s ruler from third grade, when he first learned to hate. Especially as injustice blew toward him, like an advance of swelling surf, as a hurricane of bigotry blustered in. He would redden at sounds of voices so unlike his own; accents he could neither comprehend nor colors he could see through, as the blistering red necked its way down his spine stiffening his resolve toward intolerance. A gentle hand would lay itself on his arm again as if to influence the redness to calm itself, quietly saying we are all God’s creatures but that would only incur more vehemence in his white light of trite retaliations, and it is difficult indeed, when dignity seemingly cannot dent intolerance. But she knew, if she were truly incompatible to his deeper opinions which were hidden by prejudice, he would have stopped reaching for her dignity. it's a ![]() A magnificent write Mxx into this night i wonder, it's morning that i dread, another day of knowing of, the path i fear to tread. |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
Tres bon! Rosa Parks came quickly to mind. |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
Excellent write Lady. BRAVA! |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
Kari, I'm sitting here wanting to light a candle, thank God for People as yourself, and this tremendous poem, burns brightly...Yes indeed, BRAVO! Tis a gift you are lady! |
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kayjay Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015Oregon |
This is so GOOD!! Many thanks, again!!, for sharing your voice here. Ken Through rubble and trouble and dark of night |
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suthern![]() ![]()
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I would type a better response... truly, I would... but I'm busy applauding. *S* |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
OMGosh!! Excellent write Karilea! Popping this one into my library!!! |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
Ohhhhhh...this is good!! *big, fat, hug* "cast me gently into the morning, for the night has been unkind" |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
"But she knew, if she were truly incompatible To his deeper opinions Which were hidden by prejudice, He would have stopped Reaching for her dignity." Was it her dream of equality, that he so despised? Was it his dream of the same, that was deferred by his prejudice? Was it prejudice that deferred his dream? We never know what happens when a dream is differed, It is an old problem... * "What happens to a dream deferred?.." "Maybe it just sags like a heavy load." "Or does it explode?" (Langston Hughes-excerpts "A Dream Deferred) As I drove down the twists and turns of this poem, it was as if I was riding in a Bentley..the road of subject was rough, and their were bumps, but the story line and stanza arrangement were like riding in that kind of a car... very smooth....a classy ride it was... ___________ice/ford ><> P.S. My feelings are that you should keep the caps at the beginning of each line...Like the classical poets did.. Especially in a poem that has the word "dignity" in it.JMHO. |
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