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SANITATION STRIKE 1968
National Civil Rights Museum Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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"Self-respect without the respect of others is like a jewel which
will not stand the daylight."
~Alfred Nobel
"Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized."
“In societies where men are truly confident of their own worth,
women are not merely tolerated but valued."
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing.
It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
Midweek Motif ~ Respect
In a time when disrespect is rampant, noticing respect is vital. We can still be surprised by the millions of ways people (and nations) show respect for each other. Let's spread respect today. Let's show it and praise it and trouble it and mend it.
Your challenge: Compose a new poem about a positive instance of respect.
miss rosie
when i watch you
wrapped up like garbage
sitting, surrounded by the smell
of too old potato peels
or
when i watch you
in your old man’s shoes
with the little toe cut out
sitting, waiting for your mind
like next week’s grocery
i say
when i watch you
you wet brown bag of a woman
who used to be the best looking gal in georgia
used to be called the Georgia Rose
i stand up
through your destruction
i stand up
(there’ll be days like this.) — The Shirelles
These folks ’bout to respect me into the grave.
At eighty Mama said, (mama said)
“People think you change when you’re old
but you still got a girl inside.”
And men could see her, too
— that pink silk dress —
soothe that hotel bellboy
“Boy, I’m old enough
to be your mama.”
He coy
“well, you ain’t.”
But seventy is prime time
for me to own what “elder” brings.
I reap myself with the respect they sow.
They don’t know I got the road
wide open in me.
Source: Poetry (April 2013)
I'm just an ordinary chap
Who comes home to his tea,
And mostly I don't care a rap
What people think of me;
I do my job and take my pay,
And love of peace expound;
But as I go my patient way,
--Don't push me round.
Though I respect authority
And order never flout,
When Law and Justice disagree
You can include me out.
The Welfare State I tolerate
If it is kept in bound,
But if you wish to rouse my hate
--Just push me round.
And that's the way with lots of us:
We want to feel we're free;
So labour governments we cuss
And mock at monarchy.
Yea, we are men of secret mirth,
And fury seldom sound;
But if you value peace on earth
--Don't push us round.
excerpt from My Indian In-laws
by
I remember India:
palm trees, monkey families,
fresh lime juice in the streets,
the sensual inundation
of sights and smells
and excess in everything.
I was exotic and believable there.
I was walking through dirt
in my sari,
to temples of the deities
following the lead
of my Indian in-laws.
I was scooping up fire with my hands,
glancing at idols that held no meaning for me,
being marked by the ash.
They smiled at the Western woman,
acting religious, knowing
it was my way of showing respect.
. . . .
(Read the rest HERE.)
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Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and
visit others in the spirit of the community—
Next week Sumana's Midweek Motif will be "Memories."
