Respect Poems
The British
by Benjamin Zephaniah
Take some Picts, Celts and Silures
And let them settle,
Then overrun them with Roman conquerors.
Remove the Romans after approximately 400 years
Add lots of Norman French to some
Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings, then stir vigorously.
Mix some hot Chileans, cool Jamaicans, Dominicans,
Trinidadians and Bajans with some Ethiopians, Chinese,
......
Discrimination
by Adelaide Rhead
Why do you think you're better
If your culture is not the same?
Yes, maybe you seem different
But deep inside all are the same.
Why do they think they're better?
If one is black and one is white,
If one is man and one is woman.
They are the same, that is their right.
......
Beauty Standards
by Kelechi Kalu
Every look you take in the mirror
Distorts your vision, it gets less clearer
Society's foolishness knows no bounds
Now you judge your self worth in pounds
Obsessed with attaining the lightness of a feather
Enduring hunger and not caring whether
or not your body could be drastically affected
You're mimicking skeletal mannequins who are well respected
Only heaven knows what kind of chemicals and rituals
helped them ascend to their pedestals and pinnacles
......
Dis Poetry
by Benjamin Zephaniah
Dis poetry is like a riddim dat drops
De tongue fires a riddim dat shoots like shots
Dis poetry is designed fe rantin
Dance hall style, big mouth chanting,
Dis poetry nar put yu to sleep
Preaching follow me
Like yu is blind sheep,
Dis poetry is not Party Political
Not designed fe dose who are critical.
Dis poetry is wid me when I gu to me bed
......
How To Hide Jesus
by Steve Turner
There are people after Jesus.
They have seen the signs.
Quick, let's hide Him.
Let's think; carpenter,
fishermen's friend,
disturber of religious comfort.
Let's award Him a degree in theology,
a purple cassock
and a position of respect.
They'll never think of looking here.
......
The Once Mighty Rendered Low
by James Kipp
Oh what spectacle of visage rendered bare before the world to suffer silent ignominious glare
On bended knee in humbled show, head and heart abashed, by how the mighty have been rendered low
Venerated glories of faded past, evanesced long ago. Now, chattel'd bondage to indignations rending soul and bone. The once reverent, now lie ‘neath heel and stone
The once mighty have been rendered low.
Made so by inglourious traitorous deeds, self inflicted upon thine sacred creed. Solely fervent in the certitude. We reap that, in which we sow.
O' how the mighty have been rendered low.
......
The Mighty Have Been Rendered Low
by James Kipp
Oh what spectacle of visage rendered bare before the world to suffer silent ignominious glare.
On bended knee in humbled show, head and heart abashed, by how the mighty have been rendered low
Evanesced venerated glories past, faded long ago. In chattel'd bondage to indignations, rending soul and bone. The once reverent, now lie ‘neath heel and stone.
The once mighty have been rendered low. Made so by inglourious traitorous deeds, self inflicted upon thine sacred creed. Fervent in the certitude, we reap that in which we sow.
O' how the mighty have been rendered low.
In the gloaming remnants of times yet passed, from 'neath shadows aspersions cast. Onerous uncertainties yet persist, can redemptive solace still exist?
......
Winston and Me
by Jeffrey Pipes Guice
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
Waking up each morning and deciding that I’m going to accomplish something is what I strive for...
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Failing is a learning process, but not attempting at all is a total lack of courage...
“If you're going through hell, keep going.”
Even though I’ve been married twice, I’ll never give up in my search for true love...
“Everyone has his day, and some days last longer than others."
......
Respect
by Jonathan Tafreg
Do you believe in male domination,
And you want to treat them,
Like their Lord?
To see them working is abomination,
Who are you to women,
Of this World?
To God alone they give an adoration,
If you want the worship,
......
Into a desert storm
by Slava P, aka Maximus Decimus Meridius
Desert storm, all alone, troops are gone
Trying hard to stay alive, what went wrong?
With this weight on my hands once again
Feel the pain of my friend, can you tell?
Just lay down my friend and don’t say a thing
You did a lot in your life don’t you think?
We All proud of you and you know it
Stay with me, please to the end of it
......
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Slava P, aka Maximus Decimus Meridius (2 poems about Respect)
October 31st, 1970 - Kyiv, Ukraine and since 1992 - New Jersey, USA