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.

April 11th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

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

Brian

April 12th, 2008 at 8:14 am

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.

pepektheassassin

April 12th, 2008 at 9:45 am

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.

Katherine

April 13th, 2008 at 9:30 am

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

April 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am

Sorry! I got confused about time zones and posted here a day early. If it’s deletable, feel free to do so.