read write prompt: #22 speak freely
by Ren Powell
Since this is my first time to suggest a prompt, I thought I’d let everyone know where I am coming from:
A friend of mine, a poet, told me when I established protestpoems.org that I was brave to do what I do. I didn’t understand why she would say that. I am not brave. In fact, I protest the infringement of human rights out of fear.
First they Came for the Jews
by Pastor Martin Niemöller
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
If I lived in Baghdad, if I lived in Tehran or Bogotá, would I be brave? No one can be certain what he or she would do in that kind of a situation. But everything I know about myself tells me “no.” I would be selfish and desperate.
Here it is highly unlikely that anyone will come knocking at my door to call me off-color names, much less … well, much less. In the last few years I have gone from being cynical in regard to petitions and rallies, to being a fervent idealist, to being disillusioned — yet convinced more than ever of the practical effects of activism. And the power of the written word.
I am an apolitical person. I don’t even pretend to know anything about Columbian politics, but I know there are journalists in prison for writing what they know and feel about it. So, from the safety of my little village cottage, I politely, but firmly, knock on a virtual door in Columbia and say, “Hey. You know, they have a right to speak their mind.”
This week’s prompt is to write a poem that speaks for someone who cannot speak for himself/herself. Write to speak for the miners of China. Or give voice to a mute Senegalese child’s love of babobab juice. Or an ant’s astonishment over the power of the big toe before it. (You might even unwittingly stumble into satire.)
I believe that, ultimately, all poetry speaks of our human values –- humor being one of them. Can’t wait to hear who you speak for!
The copyright holders of “First They Came for the Jews” cannot be traced. Additional information on the poem’s origins can be found by following the poem’s link.
Come back after midnight next Sunday night for the Get Your Poem On post to link your own poem giving voice.
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get the read write poem badge! 
Wear it loud, wear it proud! Display the Read Write Poem badge on your site. Just click here or on the image above to get the code! read write poem news- yes, yes, here’s another virtual book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 6, 2010 | 11:37 amFind the latest tour stop for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace at Jillypoet, Jill Crammond Wickham’s blog, where you can find an interview with Pamela that discusses how she creates manuscripts.
Previous stops include Daniel Romo at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies and James Brush at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- the best of the web is in our ranks
February 6, 2010 | 11:35 amSarah J. Sloat’s poem,”Attending the Tasting” (published in The Literary Bohemian) has been selected for Best of the Web 2010. Congratulations, Sarah!
- another (w00t!) read write poem member on the joe milford poetry show
February 6, 2010 | 11:34 amOn the Joe Milford Poetry Show tomorrow (Feb. 6): W.F. Roby at 9 AM (PST). Find the show here!
Joe describes Will as a “great language poet and bad-ass.”
- ‘literary podcasting made simple with wordpress.com’
February 6, 2010 | 11:33 amDave Bonta has published a how-to article that might be of interest to WordPress users: “Literary Podcasting Made Simple with WordPress.com,” based on his and Beth Adams’ experience at Qarrtsiluni.
Thanks, Dave, for continuing to help make the community aware of technological resources that can expand our art.
- the latest (virtual) book tour stop for ‘a walk through the memory palace’
February 3, 2010 | 3:53 pmThe latest tour stop has been posted for Pamela Johnson Parker’s debut collection, A Walk Through the Memory Palace. Find out how Daniel Romo responded to the work at his blog, Peyote Soliloquies.
James Brush provided our first tour stop at his blog, Coyote Mercury.
You can find all our plans for the tour here.
- planning for napowrimo in april, and you are invited!
February 2, 2010 | 6:12 pmHello, hello dear Read Write Poem community members! We are in the planning stages for NaPoWriMo. (What? Is that a groan I hear, or an excited exclamation?)
We are planning another prompt-every-day for those folks who love to write a daily poem in April (which is, as most of you know, National Poetry Month in the United States — although there is an international following of writing poetry every day in April, too, so it is not just about the States).
Anyway! This is a call for prompts because we want to run your ideas, one every day, in April. So here’s what to do:
- Prompts must be no more than 250 words, and we will take the first 30 that we receive.
- Include “NaPoWriMo Prompt” in the subject line of your email as well as your username (e.g., the name you use when you log in) so we can match you up with your prompt and give you the link love.
- Email your submission (in the body of the email — no attachments please) to prompts (at) readwritepoem (dot) org!
We’ll let you know when we’ve got the 30, but don’t delay because it takes a lot of time to format the posts and we want to be ready come April Fools’ Day. Woohoo!
- new senior contributors at read write poem
February 2, 2010 | 11:51 amWe are thrilled to announce that Ren Powell and Dave Jarecki are moving into the senior contributor role at Read Write Poem. Both have been writing feverishly for the site, as well as providing ideas for content and for the community as a whole. In short, they make this site a more lively, and better, place.
Ren and Dave will fill the roles vacated by Carolee Sherwood and Jill Crammond Wickham, who have moved into the manager role.
Everyone please thank Ren and Dave for their hard work and commitment to Read Write Poem.
- rounding out the virtual book tour of sarah j. sloat’s ‘in the voice of a minor saint’
January 31, 2010 | 1:53 pmOur last stop on the Virtual Book Tour of Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint is with Ren Powell. Find Ren’s review at More Babel.
Joseph Harker provided our first stop in December, and you can find David Moolten’s review at Edible Detritus. David’s was followed by Dave Jarecki’s. Dave’s review is at his blog. Find Jill Crammond Wickham’s at Jillypoet: Mom Trying to Write.
In case you missed the introduction, we are (virtually) hosting Sarah J. Sloat’s In the Voice of a Minor Saint. For complete tour information, such as how you can get your own copy of the collection or how you can get involved in future tours, read this post.
- make your own book: get off the computer and onto the paper
January 30, 2010 | 4:19 pmBeth Adams has posted her latest project at The Cassandra Pages. “A Handmade Book” may not explicate all the details of bookbinding, but Beth shows readers the “Secret Belgian Binding.” It’s a beautiful as well as inspiring post.
If you would like more detailed instructions, Google “secret Belgian bookbinding” and find sites such as this one. Or look for a local book arts class for hands-on instruction.
As Beth says, ” … it did me good to get away from the computer and feel my hands at work!”
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I loved this prompt, in fact, it fit right in with what I did for my poem-a-day for NaPoWriMo, here’s the link to my contribution- I will try to return back next week for a re-posting of the link, I wasnt sure if I would be able to come by, hence this link. I believe in the cause I mentioned in my post quite a bit and wanted to spread the word, anyway possible.
http://ul-typingaway.blogspot.com/2008/04/female-foeticide.html
Thanks Ren for your prompt. Like UL I posted already but I will return on Monday to leave a permalink. If you wish to read this weekend, then please click on my name.
I hope that this American Sentence, in combination with my American Sentence # 8 (scroll down a few) will fit the prompt to “speak freely” for those who will never, now, be able to speak for themselves: An American Medal of Honor recipient, and nine tiny ducklings. And for shed tears.
I’m new to Read Write Poem, so this is my first response to a prompt here. The prompt struck me hard, and I knew immediately for whom I would “speak freely” today. This is my submission in his honor.
Pemphero
Sorry! I got confused about time zones and posted here a day early. If it’s deletable, feel free to do so.
Thanks for taking on the challenge!
(Katherine, I’ve done it myself.)
Don’t forget to let me know if you want your poem added to the current compilation! http://www.protestpoems.org
It’s no problem, Katherine. We love enthusiasm, and it takes a while to figure out where to post. (We’ve all done it, believe me!)
Well in the seeming abscence of a ‘Get Your POem on’ post, here’s my link: http://foundcraftygreenart.blogspot.com/2008/04/shells.html.
Excellent prompt by the way
here’s my response to the ’speaking freely’ prompt:
http://moodsandmetaphors.blogspot.com/2008/04/to-what-end.html
…Everydamnbody’s got a story.
Red trucks.
I still shake my head
wondering what that old man meant.
Great and full-of-places-to-go prompt. Thanks.