steadfast -- week 7 LJI Literary Prize Fight

[eeyore_grrl]

				steadfast

the world is crumbling around us
	genocides, gunshots, and wannabe dictators
	hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, and tsunamis
	I worry that we are Pompeii
		and it is too late to stop the lava, the ash, from covering us
				(from preservering our bodies perfect in this state of terror)
			  too late to save us from this nightmare

yet
      i remain steadfast in my will
			    my desire
			    my promise to keep fighting for us all
as
      you must, too

we must rise as as one
	strong
	determined
	ready for the fight of our lives
			the fight for the lives of our children

people are scared 
	of change
	of difference
	of strength that they do not understand 
and is not theirs
people are scared

so i speak into my echo chambers
	teach my son the ways of equality and kindness
	teach his friends how to grow into better humans than those in charge

i read and i learn facts
			and realities
		about the world
			about people
i read and i cry and i bemoan the state of the states
				the state of humanity
					(the loss of humanity)

but all is not lost
	i refuse to believe that this is it
	that this new normal is, well, normal or okay
i stand true and loyal to humanity
	trying to help where i can and educate when i can
i read books to classrooms on how to deal with big emotions
		and bullies

i tell my friends that they are beautiful and worthy of love and comfort
	i write these poems about horror and frustration
		and blast them into the void of the internet
	my words tell my story
you cannot shut my mouth or my fingers
	i remain loyal 
to the human race

	

See me read it here:

"steadfast" (Watch on YouTube)

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You can vote here until Monday, December 3rd 2018 at 6pm PST: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1016945.html

Comments

[murielle]

Brava!

Beautiful!

"...loyal to the human race."

If only, if only.

For a while one of my friends and I couldn't talk about politics. It wasn't safe. Recently we talked. What we discovered was our differences wasn't about politics, it was about personalities. We need to put our loyalties to one another before we lose the irreplaceable.

As always,C,thought provoking and inspiring. Brava!

[eeyore_grrl]

Thank you so much, Murielle. Particularly with the people I have "known" longer it means a lot to me to hear that you like it.

I mostly lost a friend, a bff type friend, because they voted for trump and were still villainizing Hillary months after Trump took office. I, honestly, felt (and feel) betrayed by that.

[murielle]

*Hugs*

It is hard. It is so terribly hard, because we look to our long-time friends (and family) to validate and support us, and when they don't...yes. Betrayal.

The thing I keep telling myself is that politicians have a shelf-life. They're not here forever. (Thankfully!)

Maybe, after some time, you guys will rediscover your common ground. It's hard to lose friends. It's just so very hard.

*Hugs*

[eeyore_grrl]

Yeah, I see you what you are saying, but, I hope, obviously, it's about a LOT more than just the literal election results. It's sad when people grow in such different directions. I am sure we both think that to be true, just with different ideals these days.

[wolfden]

I have not kept very many people that were Trump supporters because it is such a different mind set. I feel like it's more of a value difference than a political one. More than any other political difference this one feels so much more threatening to me and mine.

You've hit upon a lot of how I feel in this poem. I won't give up. I keep going but it feels all uphill. The little things that I do feel like a drop in the bucket.

[alycewilson]

Yea, I agree. We all need to be steadfast about driving for a better world in these days.

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Lovely! I like the idea of not giving and passing on what we believe in to the future generation.I especially love the last paragraph. Very empowering! Well done.

[halfshellvenus]

The final stanza is such a terrific conclusion to this poem-- not just to the theme of steadfastness, but to what she should be focusing on with all of our shared strength.

[bleodswean]

Nice analogy with Pompeii! That visual really works here!

[rayaso]

I loved the ending, and I enjoyed seeing/hearing you read your poem. The architecture of the poem is also very interesting, with the spacing of the lines adding to the sense of the poem as a whole.

[dmousey]

There is ony ONE race, and we all share a common ancestor. We will need everyone to survive if we continue in our folly.
😊✌🐭🐁

[static_abyss]

I always enjoy your performances and think they add a depth to all your writing because we get to hear everything as it sounded to you, and that creates a much different experience than just me reading it.

Well done!

[onecheapdate]

Humanity really does need to be doing better as a whole. We need to think more about the world we'll all be leaving behind. I loved your added video. Idol contestants are continuously bringing such unique components to their pieces. I think poetry especially benefits from having the writer recite it and add their emphasis where it's meant to be added.

[bellatrixe]

Your words are both powerful and beautiful. I always love your performances too - like someone above said, I too love the added depth that comes with hearing your words as well! <3

[moretta]

This part got to me:
people are scared
of change
of difference
of strength that they do not understand
and is not theirs
people are scared

Summary of the world today and maybe as it has always been.
As always, wonderfully done. You always manage to capture the powerful emotions and bring them out in me as well.

[flipflop_diva]

I love this! Every word is just perfect and completely conveys all the same things I feel on a daily basis (especially wanting to teach my daughter to be kind and fair while I hope the world will be a better place for her to grow up in).