LJ Idol Season 10 - Week 0 - Optional - Introduction

[eeyore_grrl]

                      believe


my son’s school has a volunteer program for parents
the morning after election 2016
i had to walk into his class as a “trusted adult”
	and tell these six year olds that they will be ok


oh god, i didn’t want to walk into that room


at line-up the parents’ eyes were all red rimmed from crying
			from fear
			from not knowing what is next


we were afraid to read about anti-bullying 
	   scared because we don’t know what to say 
			how to explain these results to our children


but we did it
	five of us read the preselected book about being blue
		and helped the children draw frowns and smiles on paper plates
			masks to show their faces
		i told them that cat videos make me smile
	
we told these children that we will protect them
			that we are here for them
			that we love them


	i hugged these children
		my child and his classmates


i am sad for my country
	grieving common sense
	mourning what was and what could have been


but soon
	i need to stand up
	we need to rise
			   in kindness and love
	i need to believe 
				for my son
				for your daughters
				for our transgendered children that are already dying
				for my immigrant husband
				for our parents on social security
				for our friends that are disabled
				for women  


we need to believe
	and we need to fight
				for our freedoms and for our rights


this is who i am
	and i refuse to be less
	         refuse to accept going backwards


i fight with my words
          			and with my hugs
	i believe in the future
				that we have one
				and i am helping to form it
			
	i have a son
there are versions of the future that terrify me


		i      am      terrified


	but i have to believe in possibility 
			          in love
			          in me and you


	teach with me
				believe with me

See others here: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/947738.html
and here: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/947581.html

Comments

[ef2p.livejournal.com]

I lurk but I don't post much (posts or comments). You poems are always amazing to read. They are clear, moving and powerful. Thanks for posting them.

[dee-aar2.livejournal.com]

Believe is my favorite word .... I found this very powerful .... Keep believing ....

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I try.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

You, too. We all need to believe.

[murielle.livejournal.com]

As always, thoughful, thought-provoking, deep, emotional, honest, and hopeful.

Also, looking ve your video readings.

[eternal-ot.livejournal.com]

More power to you!

[xlovebecomesher.livejournal.com]

I'm scared for his presidency but I'm trying to believe it will be okay.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

I'm ready to fight to make sure it is ok.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Join me.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[jake67jake]

Belief in our system and our country are a difficult thing for me... I'm trying.

Thank you for the positive message.

Good luck

[rayaso.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're back! What a great way to begin the competition -- a wonderful poem!

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

Really powerful.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

We have to believe, hope, and take action to counteract what has happened. Good luck this Idol season.

[lilmissmagic71.livejournal.com]

Yes! I'm with you!

[banana-galaxy.livejournal.com]

Talking to my eldest son about the election results the next morning was one of the hardest things for me to do. And then talking to his teacher and hearing how the other kids in the school felt about it. Because his school is predominantly Hispanic/Latino. I can't imagine how much harder it was on the teachers.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

So much truth here, and the sadness I feel that this election has prompted so many links to suicide hotlines and so many stories of children having to be reassured just reinforces what an unbelievable, awful place we find ourselves in.

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

Really looking forward to reading more of your verse this season!

[my-name-is-jenn.livejournal.com]

People keep telling me to "stay hopeful" and "give him a chance" but I can't. I'm looking into volunteer opportunities in my very small town. My area is almost 40% Hispanic, so I know there are options, but I don't speak Spanish.

I really like how you structured this.

[favoritebean.livejournal.com]

The day after was so difficult. We are terrified here too, but I won't tell my daughter that.

Your introduction is very powerful and well done.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yeah. it's hard to be terrified when you have a child...

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I don't speak spanish either, but my kiddo is learning in a Dual-Immersion classroom. Yay.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

*squee* Thank you. I look forward to writing it.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Elections shouldn't cause suicides. A friend of mine has a transgender child. The night after the election FOUR kids killed themselves and one more is on life support. That's from ONE SINGLE trans parent support group. What? The? Actual? FUCK?

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I didn't miss teaching on that day.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

We still need to stay joined and strong.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

It is so easy to fall into the anger, hate, depression. And I did, but not this time. So I'm ready to fight.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you muchly. I'm glad Idol is back!

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

[wolfden.livejournal.com]

I love this.

It's good to see you again. Good luck this season.

[ellison.livejournal.com]

So well written. We can do this - we who believe in goodness and fairness and equality can band together in support and make sure our future is a good one.