Walk a Mile

source: georginadollface.com

Take a look at the kid in the dirty clothes

Do you think he doesn't know he has a smell?

And what about the kid with no winter coat?

He's living in his own private hell.

And where is the girl who's not in school today?

Cause she's at home taking care of her mom

Do you think maybe she's got more on her mind

Than the dress she'll be wearing to the prom?

Take a look in the eyes of the man on the street

Who is trying to hang on to his pride

He grabs your arm as you pass him by

To tell you how the government lied.

Listen to the words of the girl who begs

Will you please give me just one dollar bill?

She's trying her best just to stay clean

But her habit is stronger than her will.

Have you ever been knocked down off your pedestal?

Have you ever tried to walk a mile?

Have you ever found every door was closed to you?

Have you ever sold your soul to see a smile?

Have you ever been hungry for more than food?

Have you ever been face down in the mud?

Have you ever tried to walk a mile?

Til then, little girl, don't judge.

submitted for Steal This Art at Rabbit's Den

and Poetry Pantry 33 at Poets United

Ship of Dreams

image source

Ship of dreams set sail

On what strange shores will you land?

Raise Ambien toasts

To our voyage of slumber

Once, we needed only waves

submitted for Steal This Art, Week of 2/27/11

Experimenting With Poetry Forms, Tanka

This photo brought to mind the Heart song "Dreamboat Annie." Anyone old enough to remember that one?

Roots to Fly

image from Haiku Challenge

 A tree with strong roots

Has branches that reach out wide

And grows tall and strong

A kite on a string

Can ride the wind past tree tops

To sail to the sun

Her feet sought the ground

So that her dreams could fly free

And climb past the clouds

image from Rabbit's Den

poem submitted for Haiku Challenge, Day 22

and for Steal This Art, Week of 2/20/11

A Star Is Born (a fishy parable)

source image from Mike Shaw Photography
via Rabbit's Den

Once upon a time there lived deep within a lake a family of trout.  In this family were a Mother trout, a Father trout, 2 small Brother trout, and an older Sister trout named Estrella. They were a happy family and especially lucky, as Estrella had a talent few other trout could rival.  She was a magnificent dancer! While most trout could flap their fins and swish their tails with enough functionality to propel them through the lake, Estrella made swimming into art. To watch her swim was to behold beauty. This exceptional talent made Estella's family quite happy, as they loved to spend afternoons watching her perform her little fishy dances.  They would clap and praise their little fry with beaming fish faces.

This was not enough for Estrella, however. She coveted more attention, more praise. Soon, word got around the lake about the talented trout. Fish swam in from miles around the lake to see Estrella's moves. She loved performing for her new fans as they clapped their fins in appreciation. Estrella's happiness did not last long, however. She soon grew bored and restless again. "This lake is not big enough to contain my talent and beauty!" she complained. "I need a larger stage to shine!"

Mother trout and Father trout tried to talk some sense into their egotistical daughter. "Honey, we were born in this lake, and unless we evolve to grow legs, in this lake we must stay."

"Well, it's just not fair!" cried Estrella. "I can't be a star here! I'm being stifled! I want to be a star!"

Well, it just so happened that a mischievous Jellyfish genie overheard Estrella's outburst. When the other fish were asleep, he jiggled up to Estrella and said, "I heard what you said before and I agree! You are too beautiful and too talented to be in this tiny lake with these awful fish! You should be a star!"

"Oh, yes, you understand!" said the prideful Estrella.

"Of course! I am a genie. I will grant you your wish. Just tell me what you want."

Without hesitation, Estrella exclaimed, "I want to be a star and to be the most beautiful thing for miles around!"

"So be it!" said the genie Jellyfish.

And with that, he waved a tentacle and Estrella's world changed forever. She found herself all alone on an isolated beach. There was no one for miles around. She felt strange. When she looked down at herself, she saw that she had five legs! She was a sea star! And she was starting to feel very thirsty...

--------------------------------------------------------------

Several months later...

Two fish were reminiscing about their childhoods.

"Hey, do you remember that trout who used to be such a  good dancer? What was her name?"

"Oh yes, Estrella! I believe she did become a star, but now she's all washed up."

The Lucky Ones

Photo: Rabbit's Den 

And we were the lucky ones
We made it through our childhoods unscathed
Perhaps there was the stray hand on our knee
     underneath the dinner table at Thanksgiving
Or the overly friendly hug
     from a teacher
But we were lucky
We were not the faces on the milk cartons
We were not the bodies found
     desecrated and dead

We were the lucky ones
Our youth didn't die in shotgun weddings
     to boys we didn't love
Nor in back alley nightmares
     from which we might never return
We were lucky
Our nightmares were bright and antiseptic
Wake up, wipe our eyes, and carry on
We had no right to cry

We were the lucky ones
Our bodies were not battered
Perhaps our souls were shattered
Maybe we've been betrayed
     by lovers' lies or dreams that died                       
But we were lucky
Our children had a home
No bruises, no broken bones

We were the lucky ones
We were pale and weak
And lost our hair
But we were lucky
Our hearts still beat inside our ruined chests
Our hands still create beauty
     though we are no longer beautiful
We sing for those
     who lost the battle we still fight
And we were the lucky ones