The Climate
Although they tell me different,
I can see it and feel it.
I am telling you… it’s raining over here.
I was told “Get Dressed for the party. You’ll have a good time”.
There’s no party in here.
Someone told me a lie.
They’re still lying to others,
not telling the truth.
I can see it and feel it.
In my life lies the proof.
Although they tell me different,
I can see it and feel it.
I am telling you… it’s raining over here.
“We’re post-rain now.
There’s no reason to hide.
There’s no reason to cry. (out)
All is well, all is fine.”
Fine
Sometimes said with a smile (ouch).
Sometimes with a handshake.
Yesterday with a hug.
It’s true meaning felt all the while.
Fine
Fine says to be quiet.
Fine says to stay silent.
“Let’s not live in the past. Today is here for us to seize.”
And of today’s plight?
“Keep the conversation light.
Let’s not disrupt this harmony
we’ve worked so hard to build.”
(pats on the back)
“So have fun at this party.
There’s no reason to cry. (out)
We’re post rain now. All is well all is fine.” (Ouch)
Although they tell me different,
I can see it and feel it.
I am telling you… it’s raining over here.
Now I used to hear tell,
of a magical umbrella..
whose powers could protect..
its users from the rain.
And anyone who wielded..
a magical umbrella..
could have countless rewards, power and fame.
Although they tell me different,
I can see it and feel it.
I am telling you… it’s raining over here.
In class teacher would say,
“You do well in these courses.
Perform well in these courses,
and you’ll win in the end”.
Teacher had an umbrella,
and said it was well-known..
those who finished these courses,
an umbrella they’d own.
I learned well in those courses,
performed well in those courses,
but when I reached the end,
my umbrella had holes.
Although they tell me different,
I can see it and feel it.
I am telling you… it’s raining over here.
Now I used to hear tell..
of a magical umbrella..
whose powers could protect..
its users from the rain.
And anyone who had..
a magical umbrella..
could live recognized..
as a human being.
I’ve been warned
“You should be more like..
the makers of the rain.
You’ll move up the ranks,
have an easier life”.
“You won’t get that umbrella but it’s the next best thing.
These crumbs taste pretty good,
with some seasoning.”
“But the price of admission is to quiet your mind
suppress what’s inside.
All is good all is fine”.
Fine?
Although they tell me different,
I can see it and feel it.
I am serious… it’s raining over here.
Land of the free, home of the brave.
Hotdogs at sporting events as blue angels fly over stadiums.
Land of the free, home of the brave.
Black body
gunned down
no umbrella
wrong town.
It’s raining
Land of the free, home of the brave
quiet streets,
two-car garages,
stands with lemonade
Land of the free, home of the brave
Innocent executed
exonerated by DNA
(posthumously of course)
Rain
Land of the free, home of the brave.
Stories of heroes,
inventors
and conquerors.
Land of the free, home of the brave.
Watered-down accounts
of colonialism,
and the slave trade.
Although they tell me different,
I can see it and feel it.
I am telling you… it’s raining over here.
Yeah it’s raining alright,
but not the rain that brings life.
This kind of rain stems from sickness
and misguided wisdom.
To some, this rain seems fictitious in its physical sense
but its power has robbed many of their physical-ness.
“All’s not well all’s not fine”
say those whose lives are dismissed.
The first step to stop this rain is to acknowledge it exists
It is then and only then can we take steps to really change…
The Climate
I wrote this poem in 2013 and am re-sharing it here having made some adaptations from the original.
You can find a brief detailing of some of the meanings within the poem at Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian.
From Aspiring Humanitarian, Relando Thompkins-Jones
