"birthrights" poems
We load the road of our success
With boulders of forgetfulness,
Stumbling each time again
As if we were but mindless men.
Shrunken, looking drunken,
Mumbling, some grumbling,
We were people, but barely,
Rarely standing up to stress.
Preferring to dress in the rags
Like hags and hobos, up to elbows
In the trash we bought with cash
Instead of buying our birthrights
Back from those who ****** us
Then ignored us, we were needing,
Some bleeding, and dying
And nobody but us was crying.
We’d carry all those speed bumps
We carefully crafted with our hands
And let them stand before us
To deter us and divert us every day
But not in a diverting way like TV.
It was a travesty, a mummer’s play
In which we each played our part
But, not like art come to life, oh no
It was a horror show for fools
And it was our own tools and effort
That pulled together to create a ride
In a non-amusing park of suicide.
Many of us don’t notice the slide
Until everybody and everything
Is on the upside and we are not.
It’s a kind of mental, moral rot.
Then the travesty became a tragedy
For you and for me, endlessly.
Oct 25, 2016
Oct 25, 2016 at 2:46 AM UTC
river run like a song.
watch the joy
leak from the wells
in your eyes,
and let it spill over like
ink and write
the pages of your story
in the history books
of heaven: oh,
you will be remembered.
you will be remembered.
an amalgamation
of all the blood that
runs through you:
the pasig,
the yangtze,
the pacific,
the sewers of manila,
john the baptist's,
tracing down your cheeks
and down your throat and
slowly you begin to choke:
the saltwater sticks to your
throat. you do nothing
but breathe,
breathe slowly and
try not to choke
but slowly swallow
the birthrights
that remain river
run,
river run
and remember
where you came from.
Dec 22, 2014
Dec 22, 2014 at 8:50 AM UTC
I believe in a world where people understand **** and not just when it's forceable.
I believe in a world where children can play outside with out their parents watching every move, and not fear being kidnapped.
I believe in a world where women are no longer afraid to walk home alone at night, or to their cars by themselves, simply because they're women.
I believe in a world where young girls aren't taken advantage of at parties just so that it can be blamed on the fact that, "they were drunk"
I believe in a world with out ruffies.
I believe in a world where no one justifies **** as "Well she was asking for it"
I believe in a world where women can wear whatever they want and won't be attacked for it.
I believe in a world where women don't have to sell their bodies for money.
I believe in a world with out forced prostitution or human trafficking.
I believe in a world where women can trust men, and there bodies won't be broken.
I believe in a world where women and children are safe.
I believe in a world where little girls and boys can grow up with out being molested.
I believe in a world with harsher punishment for rapists and child molesters.
I believe in a world where harmful **** kits aren't necessary because a victim's statement is valid evidence.
I believe in a world with out gang rapes.
I believe in a world with out brutal **** videos and child ***********
I believe in a where women are allowed to be powerful and own their birthrights.
I believe in a world where women and homosexuals are no longer held down by ****** violence.
I believe in a world where women in the military aren't *****
I believe in a world with out South African **** camps for lesbians.
I believe in a world where men and women aren't ***** for being gay.
I believe in a world where women can negotiate ****** use, regardless of the country or situation.
I believe in a world where women can negotiate when and who they have *** with.
I believe in a world where women have choice.
I believe in a world where ****** assault is considered a hate crime.
I believe in a world with safe homes for victims of ****** violence.
I believe in a world where women can establish community and a voice for themselves.
I believe in a world where that voice will be heard.
I believe in a world where women and victims no longer live in shame.
I believe in a world where women are free and accepted as leaders.
I believe in a world with out ****** violence.
I believe that it can happen, and that we together can make a positive change for our community, wherever it may be.
Jan 18, 2012
Jan 18, 2012 at 7:03 PM UTC
morning contradictories: mourning our poems, falling stars
awaken to a sunshiny Saturday,
the lazys, their coverlet of flowers,
inhibit our movements, now, as it nears
high noon, we have yet from our bed stir
August has be-come, the grass pockets
of gray and green, swaths of sunburn brown,
reveal how far along the North American
summer has poetry passed, irretrievable
reading your messages and notes from
world over, lazy licking you poems so many,
delighting, ponderous and oft heroic, as well,
weeping as too many become fallen stars
each grass blade, from earth born and returned,
the nutrients preserved in our sandy soil, intended
to nurture next summer’s poesy new birthrights,
green+browned, weep+smile, mutual contradictories
these poem best friends, passing by each other at lifecycle’s
multi-paths, metaphors for our too many morning stirrings,
most to be falling like stars that, though in motion, need not
come to rest ever, their movement attracts a one…lasting look
it nears noon, it nears this poem’s timely finishing touch,
straighten its tie, smooth its skirted pleats, a forehead
implant kiss goodbye, sent on its way to find its own weight,
no parent ere admit, it leaves, with tear-burst showers falling…
August 1
2020
noon
Aug 1, 2020
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:06 PM UTC
I am given this right
to feel to try
I with the next breath
expand my chest and might
I flex my aura my
lungs my being
I strive like every living
thing
I stand as tall as I was made
by the rich dirt
nurtured by the falling waters
I stand in the rain
arms spread wide taking in
my birthrights
the worth
of me
I give each and all
every sprout every tree
every gnat and flea
this right also
I cry when
the rain falls
when the sky clouds up
the heavens must breathe ,
too
thankfully
Oct 16, 2016
Oct 16, 2016 at 7:23 AM UTC
Curtain dust is like magic falling onto the stage
And the rickety crickety creaking of the aged floor
Holds all the birthrights to the moments constantly being born.
The sea of floating souls do not desire anything more
But to submerge themselves in the waves of the anthems
And underwater they try to bottle the fallen curtain magic.
Wavelengths of harmonies flow through space
Beckoning for a flow, a feeling, a connection between each other
Moments agilely fleet away, but here time is endless.
Nov 15, 2013
Nov 15, 2013 at 6:26 PM UTC
On branch of learning tree
Her red hair— roping me,
My arms arrested, twisting
In smoke of dusty morning
And then to walk in joys field
With caved heart so revealed,
A great book of psalms grew
The fruit of laid truths anew,
Words, one working saviour,
Cannot free poor dull knaves
Burning in such simple sun,
What storied fables we sung,
My eyes setting, made blind
O, let free— nailed on high,
Dead alive in my birthrights
Topped off parables of light.
Nov 11, 2014
Nov 11, 2014 at 4:19 PM UTC
lasing fallacies
facilitated by flunkies
fictionalizing facts
for freedom
re-done interiors
inferior to craftsmanship of old
offer glimpses into consciousness
of the common folk
squandering birthrights
for a burger richer in trans fat
and bacon flavoring
atop an evangelical spire
I peer into soulless zombies
seeking connection
with my kin
only to have reality slap me back
as wolves are kin to pugs
but they cannot coexist
storm clouds gather
night falls
tears drop
I am alone
bone dry dust bowl
harboring fuchsia scorch marks
landscape scars
fracking remnants
humanity’s blight
my line of sight tracks trite sprites
pixie wings and bath salts
eating dog faces for jesus
or worse
feces
out of hunger
horrified I recoil to a safe spot within
again
with old friends
in the din
I win
Aug 28, 2014
Aug 28, 2014 at 1:39 PM UTC
I will destroy the death in me. the plagues that soak my mind and thoughts.
my bones will hold strong and keep their frame in Your surpassing strength.
If it weren’t for my broken heart i would never be this close to peace.
i’ll breathe your blood as long as i live
My eyes are open…
and everything still moves in slow motion.
I traded gold for my birthrights once before.
no, not again.
won’t happen again.
Sun rays can warm the skin to the bones beneath, but what can thaw a frozen heart like mine?
Ruts. holes. trenches. i am in a fixed state.
Watch the dirt part ways as I ascend from the filth.
Aug 16, 2010
Aug 16, 2010 at 11:09 AM UTC
.
On branch of learning tree
Her red hair— roping me,
My arms arrested, twisting
In smoke of dusty morning
And then to walk in joys field
With caved heart so revealed,
A great book of psalms grew
The fruit of laid truths anew,
Words, one working saviour,
Cannot free poor dull knaves
Burning in such simple sun,
What storied fables we sung,
My eyes setting, made blind
O, let free— nailed on high,
Dead alive in my birthrights
Topped off parables of light.
Jan 16, 2017
Jan 16, 2017 at 10:15 PM UTC
They didn’t take our rights,
We let them.
They didn’t steal our taxes,
We let them.
They didn’t jigger the laws,
We helped them.
They didn’t become bigots,
They always were.
They didn’t change into crooks,
They always were.
They didn’t take our birthrights,
We surrendered them.
They didn’t arrest criminals,
They arrested us.
They didn’t starve bad guys,
They starved children.
They didn’t steal our Social Security,
They stole all of our security.
They didn’t cancel our insurance,
They gave it to themselves.
They didn’t refuse to raise our wages,
They raised their own.
They didn’t just criminalize us,
They deified themselves.
Jan 31, 2018
Jan 31, 2018 at 1:35 PM UTC
the leaders of tomorrow bravely take to the dais
justified their precious life,
liberty and pursuit of happiness -
stolen under their figurative nose)
asper an unparalleled heist
recouping quintessential basic human rights,
and will NOT yield an inch
(or any other minuscule amount),
if for no other reason
(and many more valid claims prevail)
such inalienable American birthrights
(codified decrees endowing freedoms -
tattered to shreds via frenzy of bullets)
guaranteeing harm inviolable unjustly out priced
sacrificed by lax second amendment spiced
within wanton murderous sprees wherein assassin
literally calls the shots (supplanting
assigned storied halls with din
of fire arms (acquired
from pennies on the dollar,
or bartered for a bottle of gin
within the underbelly (viz black market)
of society, where trigger happy jinn nee
as slaughter sans killing fields mount
with resignation vis a vis
tocollective shrugging shoulders prithee
and upend safe havens i.e. storied academic re:
deuce sing self preservation (UNFAIRLY)
to activist minded students tree
ting each day as a survivalist course, thus WE
as coined on legal tender (E Pluribus Unum)
MUST unite against love affair with pistols, no matter
one or more mere mortals
think Matthew Scott cray ZEE!
Apr 13, 2018
Apr 13, 2018 at 1:14 AM UTC
I MOVE as prayer warrior
traveler from distant lands
to make things right
inside expansion of life.
Light enters cells with breath
as I’m readied to stand
on platform
of love.
I STAND as love warrior
to be instrumental in bringing
the world to higher vibrations
of harmony as ment to be.
Visions for peace and joy osculate,
as dreams integrate
into present time.
I stand. You stand.
We stand
committed to get this planet
realigned with our space brothers and sisters
with our sacred Mother Earth
with our birthrights inside freedom.
Time to celebrate
as we recall we are children of light
in this our changing world.
Mar 16, 2019
Mar 16, 2019 at 10:32 AM UTC
By: Cedric McClester
He has celebrity and fame
So everybody knows his name
But a modicum of intelligence isn’t the same
As him being prepared to play this game
See he’s created quite a brand
Which in the short run gives him the upper hand
But that doesn’t mean he understands
The nature of the job’s demands
The people may not be aware
Whether or not that’s his real hair
But either or why should they care
How long it takes him to prepare
He’s number two now in the poll
At least that’s what we’re being told
But give it time it will get old
Even from a man so bold
The quality he has the most
Is the fact he’s tres verbose
And makes headlines in the Post
Because he’s not afraid to boast
Or inclined to make false claims
Of birthrights or presidential names
Despite the ones he tries to shame
To me it’s all one in the same
They’ve labeled him The Donald
Like that clown, you know, Ronald
Or as I prefer a nerd like Arnold
A blabbermouth think Mitch McConnell
Even after all my words are spent
He’ll never be the president
Instead he’ll remain a malcontent
And I’m sure you share that sentiment
Copyright © 2015, Cedric McClester. All rights reserved/
Jun 24, 2015
Jun 24, 2015 at 9:58 AM UTC
It is a quarter to four before I go working,
While you are witnessing evening's crowning.
I would love to watch the sunset with you,
But we have thirteen hours apart to go through.
I always tell myself I have inspired wisdom,
Yet I don't know how love will survive in materialistic kingdom.
I will just lose everything in humanity,
For forever is for one Divine Entity.
Your heartfelt joy is having the same morning;
I am still blinded that success is my blessing.
Let fate worry about our birthrights;
Together we will bring individuality to new heights.
The merchant's son never thought he would create another poem,
For your passion's insolence lit his way home.
You made him face a piece of his fear,
A fear of gloating that this love story might shed a tear.
Looking forward that nine thousand miles will find its way,
Hoping that the coordinates will never go astray.
If love is a crime,
We already defied the laws of time.
Mar 9, 2015
Mar 9, 2015 at 9:51 AM UTC
In the beginning …
the past and future
were orphans
Lost in a silence
unnamed until
spoken
Waiting in anticipation
their birthrights
in limbo
The present expanding
its moment
—christened free
(The New Room: June, 2023)
Jun 6, 2023
Jun 6, 2023 at 11:05 AM UTC
A man's greatest right is not his birthright.
Birthrights are sometimes sold or can cause a fight
So maybe it's his right to change his own mind
Over and over and again without looking behind.
Something he can do without conceding any loses
This is his birthright, this he can do whenever he chooses.
IB-Poetry©️
3/14/2018
Mar 13, 2018
Mar 13, 2018 at 11:33 PM UTC
we were born for greatness.
let us ride this out,
take this town for ourselves.
let us chain smoke on the rooftops
and drink in the alleys.
let us shout the iliad
at the top of our lungs
to those who will not listen
and those who will not care.
let us travel the globe
in the name of life.
let us dance in korea, brazil, italy,
and return better than before.
let us learn of language,
of the universe inside us,
of people long dead
and of people still living.
we were born for greatness.
let us be great.
Apr 8, 2015
Apr 8, 2015 at 9:40 PM UTC
Defensive barriers
may bestow
bitter *******
and
burdensome byroads.
Defensive barriers
can be
beneficial birthrights
bodyguards, buttressing
by love.
Aug 26, 2016
Aug 26, 2016 at 8:25 AM UTC
Do you want
To go under
The earth
With me
Or am I
A delinquent
Melody
Unchain me
Please
Gently go
Where it's unseen
Quiet please
If they see us
They'll sneeze
1-2-3
Hold your nose
You go first
Go under the sea
To a dark epiphany
Flowing with trees
Of ancestrial bleeding
Time and land
Misleading
Too common
The obsession
With meeting
Birthrights
In succession
Balanced confusion
Roots guided
Earth still
Breathing
We are all
Just proceeding
Oct 12, 2017
Oct 12, 2017 at 8:03 AM UTC
How far
have the remaining drops traveled
Or do my veins
only flow with manuscript memories
Armed with only
dream vague solution birthrights
White clouds
dot the trail for each of my steps
The lines on the map
alternate between dawn and dusk
An awakening
that resembles gray morning night
But to an observer
what passes as life is only a painting
Red does not stop
but instead draws your flesh near
Green does not go
but instead lays to be walked upon
Yellow does not slow
but instead only says I told you so
It is only experience
that tells you why you can’t trust me
The stark value
of shock is only reality coming home
You thought it before
but not with someone you just met
At least not today,
our perversions must grow slowly
Still you deny it
until the secret code is chosen at random
Then the door will open
and you will find what is inside of me
Is really inside of you
like the droplets of a life you once knew
Aug 11, 2016
Aug 11, 2016 at 5:27 PM UTC