Distorted images cloud our eyes The roles we play hoping to 'land a big one' The 'feed the agenda' 'grease the wheel' 'catch the brass ring' 'keep up with the Jones' 'ride the gravy train' 'climb to the top' 'king of the mountain' 'be on the winning side' 'maintain the status quo' 'the ends justify the means' 'scratch my back I'll scratch yours' 'don't upset the apple cart' clone-mentality days are numbered These shadows block the view We're blinded by refraction Dare to be rare We are sons and daughters of pioneers and explorers survivors and overcomers What pathetic milk-toast we've become Fear and self-absorption are tools in greedy hands feeding us opiates to kill pain and dull our eyes
Linda,
This is the first time I've read your work and I picked a great poem to start with - fine, honest expression, the truth so many would rather avoid and indeed deny. Thank you for this.
John
Having folk gather round me hospital bed this week, all in tears and wanting answers to our inability to control the matters of life circumstances that our completely out of our hands, this strikes a very poignant chord with me, Linda. Our eyes and minds are very, very dull and soooo slow to wake up to the simple fact that, in our "have it all: what we want, when we want it" zooped-up first world, we can add nothing to either our health or our allocated time and circumstances when life issues just take over. Life is indeed fragile and in our "teenage" culture we mistakenly think we are so, so invincible. Just one little shock is enough to turn all these priorities completely on their head! But just a shame it takes one to realise it... doubtless it will be "business as usual" for me, too, in a few months' time. I think time-pressure is one of the biggest evils... nothing but a desire to succeed in doing what we want to do in life forcing the pace. Sorry, a long way of saying that this poem is acute and accurate!! Well done and thank you. LOL Kate xx
A profoundly insightful write that holds a mirror of consciousness right up to our faces and dares us to look, behold truth, then do something about it. A great read all around.
Yep!...and we tilt our heads back and open our mouths to allow it, too. We have forgotten how to take responsibility for our own fate and future.
Take care,
Sherry
Linda you are so right and it is such a preconceived idea passed on from generation to generation that we must always strive for more.Maybe we should have been taught just enough is good too.
Felix
Reviewed by Betty Torain (Reader)
Reviewed on October 21, 2005
Good write Linda. Your POEM sums up a lot of attitudes in our society.
Still Living on my Feet is the follow up to Tichaona Chinyelu’s first book, In the Whirlwind, which was rooted in a sense of hard-hitting revolutionary black love. However, in this sophomore effort, Tichaona brings the revolutionary essence from deep
My book of poetry is being redone by me, I have a beautiful cover designed and the book will have a few more than 200 poems in it. I am going to have it printed on demand here in Canada. When it is done I will let you know when it is done and if anyo
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This is the first time I've read your work and I picked a great poem to start with - fine, honest expression, the truth so many would rather avoid and indeed deny. Thank you for this.
John
Regis
we've become
So sadly true, Linda - and I often wonder if it's now already too late to change.
Take care,
Sherry
love Tinka
Felix
Good write Linda. Your POEM sums up a lot of attitudes in our society.
Thank you.
Nice one..