↓ Today, I tell my partner that he scares me
Not because of anything he did
Because of all the men who came before him
They are right to be fearful
Because of the women who raised us in fear
I tell myself he's different
It feels like I've been gas-lit by my thoughts
I trust myself, but
I am often wrong about the wrong things
I know he would never hurt me
I still love my father
In spite of everything ↑
About the Creator
J
I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil
A Letter to the Firestarter
Dear Firestarter, We can all see you, we've been watching you since you began. In case you didn't know we were here before you and we will be here after. We witnessed your rise, your setbacks, your guilt and your lies. We witnessed you start the fire.
By Donny Foley7 days ago in Poets
Why Black History Matters in America?
The United States of America is celebrating their 250th anniversary in 2026. I'm proud to be an American and as someone who was born here, I wouldn't imagine myself living anywhere else. This is a country where opportunities are possible. Where anyone can be successful in anything they desire to do. Equality, community, and togetherness are the backbones of what America is and should be about. However, we have an administration who wants to erase and disregard those who have made positive, meaningful impacts in our country, specifically Black figures, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Maya Angelou. President Trump and his administration have been constantly complaining and fighting against what they call the "Woke agenda". They use this excuse as a distraction from other issues they refuse to address, such as the high cost of living, climate change, and inflation. That equality is dividing America, when in reality, it's bringing us together. Being woke is not tied to a specific political party. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, you can still care about other people and their plights. Compassion and empathy for others isn't tied to a political party, either. We were taught as children to treat others the way we want to be treated and not judge others because they're different from us. Caring about others isn't a personal attack on your beliefs. It doesn't make you any less of a person. People who are easily offended over African American figures, past or present, or anything related to it, are grasping at straws. Current and future generations need to know who people like Harriet Tubman and Shirley Chisholm were, especially in the classroom. Black History is part of American History. It should be recognized, not hidden or forgotten. Besides, you can't shield children from everything, just because your feelings are easily hurt.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 4 days ago in The Swamp
Comments (5)
I feel pain when I read this; feeling anything is a positive experience. No one excels with ease when writing from the heart. Bravo!
Outstanding piece!!! Highly effective both ways.
Gosh this hit me so hard, that two twice, when reading it normally and in reverse! It sure packed a punch! You did a brilliant job on this one!
J, reading it from top to bottom and immediately bottom to the top deeply impacted me. They say that Fathers are the first to form our image of a man. If I may offer just one remark, and It could be a personal confusion, since English is not my first language- In both readings I was a little bit confused by these 2 lines "They are right to be fearful Because of the women who raised us in fear" I wish I could text this to you personally so that it didn't seem like criticism - it isn't by any means.
Nicely done!