deepundergroundpoetry.com
which bandwagon do I ride?
throughout the ages
after all these things
we're still slaves to our pride
and divided by the lullabies
they sang to our cradles
where do we stand
in this sea of chaos
swaying in the wind and rain
like palm trees in a hurricane?
to bend or to break?
must we be fire and ice,
driven apart by nature?
even the horses black and white
graze the same pastures tonight
under the pale moon
this old war flag I wave
with words of peace
hoping to redefine its meaning
but love isn't what they're seeing
and I stand on shaky ground
I love this flag
but I love people
of every shade and place
I do not represent hate
... do I?
I want to stand true
and listen to my own voice
I don't want a war within myself
nor a war between my people
love among us is all I want
to take it down
or leave it flying high?
to bring everyone together
or divide and conquer?
why does it have to be this way?
I leave my rebel flag
flying high in my southern skies
its a target on my back
as if I were against the black
because I'm half white?
it seems silly
to cry reverse racism
it seems useless to speak at all
but silent or shouting I will not fall
I love you even if you don't love me
(on the current debate over the rebel/confederate flag in the South)
after all these things
we're still slaves to our pride
and divided by the lullabies
they sang to our cradles
where do we stand
in this sea of chaos
swaying in the wind and rain
like palm trees in a hurricane?
to bend or to break?
must we be fire and ice,
driven apart by nature?
even the horses black and white
graze the same pastures tonight
under the pale moon
this old war flag I wave
with words of peace
hoping to redefine its meaning
but love isn't what they're seeing
and I stand on shaky ground
I love this flag
but I love people
of every shade and place
I do not represent hate
... do I?
I want to stand true
and listen to my own voice
I don't want a war within myself
nor a war between my people
love among us is all I want
to take it down
or leave it flying high?
to bring everyone together
or divide and conquer?
why does it have to be this way?
I leave my rebel flag
flying high in my southern skies
its a target on my back
as if I were against the black
because I'm half white?
it seems silly
to cry reverse racism
it seems useless to speak at all
but silent or shouting I will not fall
I love you even if you don't love me
(on the current debate over the rebel/confederate flag in the South)
Published 3rd Nov 2015
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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3rd Nov 2015 10:26pm
Great poem. I can see how this subject is very personal to you and I commend you for sharing about it.
4th Nov 2015 4:11am
Seems you care deeply about the subject. I appreciate your insight! Thank you
Well written. I respect your opinion but I also understand why that flag represents hatred to so many. It's harder for you to understand it, I think because hatred has become a very diverse thing these days. There's plenty of hate o go around. But slavery is only one aspect of the racism that stains the flag you love. Try to imagine, if people waved Nazi flags, and some do, how Jewish people would feel. So much suffering and torturing and death stains the Swastika that no matter what anyone does, the blood will never wash away. Slavery began here right around 1500 and was the law of the land until almost 1900. 400 years is not an easy thing to forgive and impossible to forget. You were not a part of that so of course it doesn't represent hatred to you. But there's still racism in America. If black people hate white people, it's not reverse racism, it's just more hatred. Reverse racism is no racism. People hate gays, Mexicans, Muslims, women, and whoever they feel like hating for whatever differences they have, it will never end. I've been watching my whole life and I was only born 52 years ago. I even got discriminated against because I'm not Jewish. But I'm not hating anyone for it, I moved on. Symbols come to represent the actions of those who display so when you wave the Southern flag, the people who are offended by it see you as someone who hates. I hope that makes sense, not trying to be preachy... jj
11th Nov 2015 3:58pm
