Haiku EssaysSomething about them

Bothers me; it’s personal

Something that’s in me

Something’s wrong with them

The way they behave or dress

Or talk or SOMETHING

They use language wrong

They say ask like its spelled ax

Can’t they just say ask

And those Harvard types

With their arrogant talking

They just turn me off

Individuals

Thinking that they are plural

Use pronouns they/them

Please don’t get me wrong

Those people just turn me off

Let ME pick my friends

I will let them be

But do not try to make me

Socialize with them

There’s nothing that they

Say or do that will alter

My views about them

It is my right, right

To pick or choose whoever

I want to be with

You all don’t get it

It’s not discrimination

I know I am right

Me, marginalized?

I say to you that can’t be

Let me explain – PLEASE

NO, you are nothing

One glance and I know for sure

Stop your jabbering

You’re marginalized

Think not, you’re kidding yourself

You’re no special case

Privilege is no shield

A high caste doesn't guarantee

Anything at all

Everyone has to

Face marginalization

There is no escape

You think you’re better

Than someone you do not know

You can tell by sight

They are a stranger

They’re not like you after all

You avoid contact

Face reality

You’re marginalized and you

Marginalize too

The possible ways

Are infinite, here’s a few

An incomplete list

You’re short in stature

I can see; ohhh I can see

Shut up, go away!

You’re not “normal” weight

I can see; ohhh I can see

Too fat, too skinny

You are middle-aged

I can see; ohhh I can see

You don’t belong here

You’re over seventy

I can see; ohhh I can see

Wrinkled skin, gray hair

You’re a teenager

I can see; ohhh I can see

Not as wise as me

You’re not beautiful

I can see; ohhh I can see

Lips warped, nose pointy

Your skin is not “white”

I can see; ohhh I can see

You’re not MY neighbor

Your skin is not “black”

I can see; ohhh I can see

Get out of my hood

Your hair is bleached blonde

I can see; ohhh I can see

You aren’t serious!

You’re a homeless bum

I can see; ohhh I can see

Go take a shower

Your voice is squeaky

I can see; ohhh I can see

I cannot hear you

You are a Jew, right

I can see; ohhh I can see

Acknowledge THE LORD

You’re a Muslim, right

I can see; ohhh I can see

Acknowledge THE LORD

Indigenous, right

I can see; ohhh I can see

Acknowledge THE LORD

You wear a turban

I can see; ohhh I can see

Acknowledge THE LORD

You are Hindu, right

I can see; ohhh I can see

Acknowledge THE LORD

You are Buddhist, right

I can see; ohhh I can see

Acknowledge THE LORD

You’re a Christian, right

I can see; ohhh I can see

Acknowledge THE LORD

You ride on the bus

I can see; ohhh I can see

I stare right through you

You wear clothes from racks

I can see; ohhh I can see

No Gucci or Coach

You tour with a group

I can see; ohhh I can see

No yachts, private jets

Your parents are poor

I can see; ohhh I can see

You’re not good enough

You have Down syndrome

I can see; ohhh I can see

I pity your life

You use sign language

I can see; ohhh I can see

You can’t be in charge

With a birth defect

I can see; ohhh I can see

Don’t even touch me

Strapped to a wheelchair

I can see; ohhh I can see

Hold up your damned head

You’re a Liberal

I can see; ohhh I can see

You seek out causes

You’re a Liberal

I can see; ohhh I can see

You want me to pay

You’re Conservative

I can see; ohhh I can see

You’re a narcissist

You’re a Conservative

I can see; ohhh I can see

Scared of no tax break

You don’t speak English

I can see; ohhh I can see

WE all speak English

You don’t speak Spanish

I can see; ohhh I can see

The tide is turning

You are transgender

I can see; ohhh I can see

You don’t dress rightly

Homosexual

I can see; ohhh I can see

PDA same sex

You defy gender

I can see; ohhh I can see

They, Them, You’re confused

Your desk is messy

I can see; ohhh I can see

You’re disorganized

You don’t think like me

I can see; ohhh I can see

Give it up you fool

You always stutter

I can see; ohhh I can see

Just stop doing that

You are a weakling

I can see; ohhh I can see

You are defenseless

I am right you know

I can see; ohhh I can see

You’re just lower class

Stop. Stop! STOP! You’re wrong

You can’t see, ohhh you can’t see

Cause you’re just plain scared

You want US to think

That we don’t have all we need

Sometimes you succeed

A zero-sum game

I don’t have it cause you do

I lose when you win

You say I need more

Don’t ever be satisfied

I bought into that

I’m not smart enough

Your rules are complicated

I bought into that

The rules are set high

They cannot be overcome

I bought into that

Don’t trust my neighbors

They are out to defeat me

I bought into that

I am slow to see

Solutions that overcome

I bought into that

I might as well quit

The rules are stacked against me

I bought into that

It never is fair

It cannot ever be fair

I bought into that

That was then not now

You buddy you cannot see

The tide is turning

We’ve opened our eyes

It has been long in coming

The time is now ours

You’ve set up the rules

Rules are a two sided sword

They apply to all

No need for revenge

But we need to overcome

Find the means and ways

We are not stupid

We will work with what’s given

We will overcome

We are not lazy

Now is the time to get down

We will overcome

We trust our neighbors

We have so much in common

We will overcome

We’re quick on our feet

We’ll implement solutions

We will overcome

We will never quit

We cannot be discouraged

We will overcome

It never was fair

But unfair rules are still rules

We will overcome

There’re slogans you’ve used

That suggest that we’re a threat

Even to ourselves

Some are meant to hurt

Some shroud your real ambition

Often hard to tell

Hard to tell or not

They create distrust and fear

They create victims

Your slogans may be

Obviously poisonous

Meant to foment hate

Hate comes from ALL SIDES

It’s always irrational

It’s self-fulfilling

We hear you chanting

Quote “you will not replace us”

We know you’re afraid

You’re afraid because

You think that you can’t compete

You don’t want to “lose”

But our gain doesn’t mean

That you naturally lose

Zero sum is false

There are other chants

“Blood and Soil” is another

That expresses fear

You are blinded by

Your own insecurities

Unfounded concerns

Once more gain doesn’t mean

That you naturally lose

Zero sum is false

Your slogans come from

Misconceptions and untruths

They’re not innocent

Admit it or not

Your slogans marginalize

There is not respect

They show a lack of

Humility and there isn’t

Dignity offered

Not only you, though,

Others’ chants are harmful too

They lack empathy

Like “Lock him up” or

“Hands too small, can’t build a wall”

Are only spiteful

Once more gain doesn’t mean

That we naturally “win”

Zero sum is false

Such chants are vicious

They are meant to promote hate

And misbehavior

These chants will shut out

Meaningful conversations

Human to human

Spite can result in

Unbridled actions or worse

Often violence

Random violence

Against any people or

Properties is wrong

Spite by the Right and 

Spite by the Left is equal

It’s nonsensical

As bad as that is

They are also dangerous

They build division

Bad legislation

Bad rallies or gatherings

Vengeful behavior

A lack of support

For basic necessities

Like food and shelter

Kindness is withheld

Empathy isn’t extended

Fairness is missing

False assumptions are

Used to create policies

That target whole groups

Bad policies take

Rights that are due to all and

Deny them to some

Policies that force

Malicious capricious tests

Designed to exclude

These bad policies

Are from laws and directives

By the powerful

You say that we need

More voter Integrity

Like its been missing

True, voting systems

Can and must be made better

Not just different

You create a law

That puts audit decisions

In one person’s hands

If just one person

Decides for an entire state

Then politics rule

Voting districts must

Never be gerrymandered

To achieve a goal

Our founders spoke up

Called for representation

One person one vote

One person one vote

Must never be legally

Manipulated

As long as the rules

For voting are agreed to

Respect the results

Without evidence

Of significant real fraud

Respect the results

Knowingly spreading 

Demonstrative misstatements

Is harmful to all

You say that we need

Election Security

Like it is missing

You create a law

Demanding voter IDs

Which are beyond reach

You say that we need

Actions That Are Fiscally

Responsible now

You create a law

Limiting voting districts

To save some money

You create a law

Closing vital services

To save some money

You create a law

Cutting back on mental health

To save some money

You create a law

To support a bad business

To raise revenues

You say we need to

Have arms to protect ourselves

Like more guns will help

It is true that guns

Are part of our history

This can’t be denied

Laws are created

Easing the purchase of guns

For self-protection

Guns are also used

For hunting wild animals

Or target shooting

Not all are the same

Some guns are more destructive

Don’t ignore which ones

It’s true that some guns

Used by soldiers in war are

Far far more deadly

Guns that are for war

Are not needed for hunting

Or for protection

It can’t be denied

That our constitution lets

Us keep and bear arms

The second right in

The bill of rights only says

Guns, not which or type

Don’t forget that when

The bill of rights was drafted

Guns were different

We must acknowledge

The profound differences

In capacities

An AR-15

Used to hunt game will not leave

Much meat to consume

An AR-15

Used by mass shooters murders

Dozens in seconds

A mass murderer

Succeeds even if stopped in

Less than a second

In order to stop

A mass murderer you must

Take away the tools

For personal use

Disallow those tools of war

They can’t be needed

For the guns allowed

Training for the use and care

Must be required

You say we need to

Follow our religious laws

Ban immoral deeds

You want to enforce

Banning same sex marriages

As immoral deeds

There is no such thing

As total agreement of

Religious beliefs

Religious worship

And traditions have never

Been universal

The state isn’t a church

The constitution mandates

A separation

You say we need to

“Create” jobs for your district

Bribe firms to move there

The firms that accept

Want state funds to automate

Raise worker outputs

New operations

Produce double the output

With half the manpower

The district that lost

Now has a labor force which

Has no real options

Small firms can offer

Jobs to those who are displaced

At much lower pay

You say we need to

Guard against bank failures

The great recession

Guardrails are in place

Now for banks too big to fail

Protection is there

Now these big banks will

Invest with confidence in

Big conglomerates

This looks very good

For the politicians with

Election visions

But it does nothing

For the small banks that want to

Support local firms

This leads small firms

Without the support needed

To employ locals

You say we need to

Pass meaningful tax relief

That benefits all

You create laws that

Enrich corporations and

Wealthier people

You think that added

Net income will result in

Expansion and jobs

You ignore that this

“Trickle-down” theory has been

Proven to be false

Slogans are used in

Subtle and obvious ways

To sow hate and fear

Reexamining

A few to show real intent

It becomes clearer

Let us examine

Voter suppression tactics

What are their basis

They think you’re stupid

They assume you’re lazy and

That you won’t unite

They know you’ll complain

They want you to feel helpless

They’re counting on it

They’re wanting you to

Behave irrationally

And waste precious time

They think that you have

A lack of resolve and grit

That you’ll just give up

The challenge remains

We do have the energy

We do have the smarts

We have the resolve

We have the community

We will not be stopped

Just cause it will mean

We have to work twice as hard

We’ll never give up

We have each other

And we have allies and friends

Willing to step up

We will overcome

The challenges of their laws

Use their rules to win

Let us examine

The rights for all to bear arms

To prevent terror

U.S. history

And traditions have always

Supported gun rights

The issues here are

Not the same as in the past

Firearms have evolved

Comparing a gun

From 1700 to

Now is instructive

Delivery of

Ammunition then and now

One hundred thirty times more

The velocity

Of the bullets leaving guns

Now three times higher

Gun users don’t need

To be marksmen any more

Innocents now die

We must adopt new

Rules that are appropriate

For guns we have now

Gun lobbies think there’s

A lack of resolve and grit

That you’ll just give up

Again we must be

Determined and committed

To protect our lives

Given the rules now

We must accept the challenge

And do what’s needed

Protest yes but don’t

Waste precious time and effort

Don’t forget the goals

Clearly there are some

Who use words to twist our hopes

To hide their intent

They want us to think

That they have our best interests

As their top concerns

But we know better

We must not corrupt our goals

Bargain our freedom

There’re slogans we’ve used

That demand you recognize

Many diverse groups

Just think about it

We all are marginalized

Its unpleasant, right

If you are ignored

You’re being marginalized

You are being judged

We say to the world

I am differently abled

I am capable

We say to the world

We all must never ignore

All genocides

We say to the world

Ban military firearms

From communities

We say to the world

Resist racist policies

Be antiracist

We say to the world

Remember Black lives matter

Fight racial profiles

Yes Black lives matter

Eliminate food deserts

Deliver health care

Wealth growth is suppressed

End red lining and provide

Basic services

Meet the housing needs

End predatory lending

Which boost foreclosures

Provide for our kids

Superior public schools

And with the best tools

Avoid corruption

Set up fair voting districts

And transparent rules

The consequences

Of marginalization

Are dreadful for all

For the one who is

Marginalized they suffer

Blows to their self-worth

Every blow is like

Suffering a mini-death

Recovery’s hard

At first there is grief

Helplessness and depression

Followed by anger

This is not your fault

You did nothing to cause this

But it still hurts you

You may try to be

More worthy by working hard

And hope for respect

But your differences

Are still visible to those

Who ostracize you

There is nothing you

Can do to control what is

Out of your control

You’re still a person

Strapped to a wheel chair or you’re

Black brown or Asian

No matter the cause

Sadness depression anger

Give you no comfort

If you stay angry

The ones you are angry with

Do not even care

Your anger hinders

Your soul and diminishes

Happiness and health

Anger is a trap

That causes inaction and

Prevents solutions

Anger must be dropped

In order to become whole

To be something else

The anger comes from

Helplessness and depression

THEY delight in that

When you feel helpless

You are not taking actions

No problems are solved

You’re trapped again by

Your marginalization

Preventing actions

Renew your beliefs

Take heart that your positions

Are correct and real

You are not helpless

You have the right to express

You must take action

If you are depressed

There are groups and other folks

Who are there to help

When you are depressed

Remember it’s medical

Do not feel ashamed

Seek medical care

To grapple with depression

Do not just surrender

When you lose something

It creates a hole in you

That is why you grieve

Grief is natural

Not something to avoid or

Try to overcome

Grief is just something

That we experience it

Becomes part of us

Grief’s a life lesson

That nothing is permanent

For human beings

Ultimately loss

Changes our life’s direction

Not for good or worse

We still have our goals

To strive for what is correct

And to strive for love

When marginalized

Do not marginalize back

That’s not the answer

Don’t try to control

Instead set an example

By your own actions

Hillel said if I'm 

Not for myself, who will be;

Who will be for me?

Hillel continues 

But when I'm just for myself

Indeed who am I?

Concluding Hillel 

Goes on, and if not now when?

Take heed, be measured

Don't do to others

Things which are hateful to you

It’s just that basic

When you assign blame

Even though it’s easier

You marginalize

If you demonstrate

By demonizing others

You marginalize

Don’t use profiling

When you take that lazy route

You marginalize

Don’t give more credit

To rich people if you do

You marginalize

If you don’t invite

Her Him Them to contribute

You marginalize

If you think a child

Cannot teach you a lesson

You marginalize

If you are open

To corrupt influences

You marginalize

If you think that skill

Equates to love and caring

You marginalize

If you think life ends

When constant care is needed

You marginalize

If you fear someone

Who cannot speak your language

You marginalize

If you’re jealous of

Your boss or your boss’s boss

You marginalize

If you don’t listen

To your subordinate’s thoughts

You marginalize

If you turn your back

When a disaster occurs

You marginalize

Don’t marginalize

Spurn marginalization

Everyone will win

YOU must answer now

No marginalization

This is personal

Open yourself up

To accept the idea

That inclusion counts

Not everyone can

Live by all the same standards

Not everyone should

There must be freedom

To seek your own happiness

And not thwart others

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

What is right and wrong

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

Personal choices

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

Where they want to reside

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

Where to recreate

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

Who to have as friends

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

How they will worship

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

Sexual choices

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

Personal pronouns

Do not expect that

Everyone will agree with

Voting preferences

You gain when you fight

Your urge to marginalize

It’s the only way

Don’t marginalize

Don’t do to others what you

Find hateful yourself

Demonstrate and fight

Laws that’re designed to prevent

Participation

Campaign and fight for

Laws that’re designed to promote

Basic human rights

You gain rights only

If everyone has the rights

The same as you do

Recognizing that

Others must be listened to

Is humility

There’s so much to gain

By being truly humble

It need not be hard

Never ever be

The one to marginalize

Show humility

Take a moment, PLEASE

Consider consequences

Extend dignity!