In an instant we see
a new reality
where minds full of hate
laugh as they reap rewards
won with lies.
Secure in arrogance,
charming and charmless,
on the make as they
take,
leaving nothing behind
but a bitter pill to swallow.
It’s done.
Put up.
Shut up.
Spills from mouths
too quick to expect that we
accept talk of exclusion
disguised as progression.
But.
In the face of this storm
we will rise and
stand strong.
This is no tantrum,
no childish temper,
there will be no endorsement
through silent apathy,
this is a battle for our
humanity.
© Sara Murray, 10 November 2016
Sharing this post with What I’m Writing and The Truth About.
Brilliant and so apt given the political turmoil of this past week.
Sarah recently posted…Getting back into the home education groove
Thank you, it’s been a sad and, at times horrifying, week.
So very poignant for these difficult times and so beautifully put. Thank you for hosting x
Verily Victoria Vocalises recently posted…A Song for the Weekend #33 Hold On by Wilson Phillips
Thank you Vicky, challenging times indeed x
Hear hear. Very well put in such a depressing, surreal week. Your restraint only serves to increase the power of what you say.
Louise recently posted…Take
Thank you Louise. I am angry, but there is little point in losing my temper, we need to be proactive and productive in our dialogue, but I cannot stay silent on this one.
Hugs. We can prove them wrong by supporting each other.
Cara recently posted…I’m on Patreon!
Absolutely. We have to stand up and be counted and show support for those who are, rightly, scared by this result x
Perfectly and powerfully put. Lots of love from this side of the pond. So many of us stand with so many of you. xxx Thanks for linking to #WhatImWriting
Maddy@writingbubble recently posted…What I’m Writing – week ninety-seven
Thank you Maddy. Challenging times ahead, and it’s not getting any better as each new appointment is announced!
Beautiful and so so true. #thetruthabout
Thank you x
It really is a bitter pill to swallow isn’t it? I feel so bad for my friends in America – particularly non-white friends. This is going to be a tough few years for sure. Thanks for linking to #thetruthabout this week Sara – it’s good to re-connect! X
Sam recently posted…The Truth about… #94
It really is. I find it so incredibly sad that, as a society, we have allowed this to happen. Challenging times ahead x
Wow Sara I love this! So powerful. it captures the disbelief and the anger that me and so many others have been feeling – and I share with you too that determination not to stand by and acquiesce: now, like no time before, we have to stand up and make our voices heard xx
Thank you Sophie. I think we have every right to be angry, now we need to channel that anger productively and positively to effect change where we can. This really is not a time to remain silent.
This is so full of power but I also read anger and hate in it, towards others who share a different view to you. You are right that now is not the time for apathy, not to allow insidious acceptances creep in under the radar, but don’t be bitter against those you oppose – you have to be able to identify with them to stand a chance of changing their views. I hoped for a different future but I also live by the mantra that our experiences make us who we are – let us all grow as humans from this experience. x
Alice @ The Filling Glass recently posted…Conflict resolution
I took a while to reflect on this comment before responding, as I think you are absolutely right that we must ‘go high’ and I wanted to take a good look inside and review my feelings before answering. You are correct that I’m angry, and I do believe that this is a situation where anger and frustration are justified, but I have no feelings of hate; that’s not me, and would be hypocritical in the extreme. The challenge now is to focus feelings of anger and disappointment in this situation in a positive way, and to not let the anger cloud our judgement. I believe that anger is a legitimate feeling right now, it’s not a temper tantrum, but just because a situation is bad, it doesn’t necessarily make anyone/everyone involved ‘bad’ and a lack of communication/understanding has been instrumental in getting us where we are. Having said that, some of the behavior that is now being seen (and that has been legitimized by this result) is shocking. We can’t allow that to continue. We must stand up and be counted and call out unacceptable behavior when we see it. It’s going to be challenging, there are those whose agenda is hate, no two ways about it, but to (almost) quote Martin Luther King Jr, only light can drive out darkness. Thank you very much for such a thoughtful comment, it’s always worth taking a moment for an internal review x
Sara, thank you for your reply. I’m sorry if I made you feel I criticised you or your feelings. And reviewing what I wrote I think I wasn’t clear about what I perceived as ‘hate’ – you clearly more than ‘don’t like’ the result but ‘don’t like’ as a description seems meek in the light of the strong words you use in your poem, hence my use of hate. But I wrote that it was directed at others which it doesn’t do directly only express a negative tone; it is the result I was inferred you felt that way about and I didn’t write that clearly.
I do however believe that these are legitimate emotional responses to what has happened, if we don’t feel we become apathetic. Words on their own don’t necessarily come to anything but being focused on how we would like the world to be rather than how we don’t want it to be seems the positive way forward. I think we view the necessary response in the same way. Wholeheartedly only light can drive out darkness. I hope that action rather than inaction and apathy can influence changes. Again, I’m sorry if I caused you upset, I really didn’t mean to offend just debate. x