social commentary
There's a rich history of poetry serving as social commentary, intended to inspire calls to action.
When vintage was cool
Remember the days when you didn’t need a phone to get a date? Television didn’t matter because there were millions of books to read. A woman didn’t need her cleavage showing to get a man’s attention. All she needed to do was respect herself and be kind. There was no provocative dancing and disrespectful words spoken in every sentence. Men opened the car door and brought flowers just because he felt like it. Having a picnic at the park with you’re family and having fun wasn’t unusual. Long lasting marriages didn’t suprise people. These were the days of respect and good people. The older generations have experienced life so differently than we have. They didn’t have screens in they’re face at all times. Nobody was taking a million pictures at every event because they didn’t need to. A picture could never capture the emotions they felt in that moment. They lived for the moment itself and remembered it without needing to capture it on a phone. Kids could play outside and nobody batted an eye about it because it was normal. We fought with hands instead of weapons. People didn’t want to deliberately hurt others around them just for fun and games. I may not have been born when things were this way, but I wish I had a Time Machine. I wish I could go back and experience one day of that life. A life I could be proud of. A generation of human beings I could be proud of. These were the days that history was made because it will never be the same, and that breaks my heart. everything was so simple. Happiness didn’t come from pills and alcohol. It came from living a full life and having conversation with the people you love in person. Everybody today is so restricted to they’re cell phones. Do people remember when you had to read the news on a sheet of paper? everybody is so consumed with screens. Maybe one day everybody will just look up for once. Maybe then the world can start to look up as well.
By Cheyenne gavranovic 3 years ago in Poets
Body of a goddess
This generation and I don’t get along very well. When I look at somebody’s body, I don’t look for perfection like the rest of society does. I praise every scar, stretchmark, and story that somebody’s imperfections can tell. When people assume a bikini body is a skinny woman in a two piece, I assume it’s a body with a bikini on it. Everybody has a bikini body when you put the bikini on. The stretch marks on a persons body are beautiful. I don’t just see scars, I see battle scars. Imperfections are more beautiful than perfection. If you aim to look like everybody else, how can you ever look like yourself? Why can’t a woman ever say she’s fat without a man saying “no, you’re beautiful”. Why can’t I be fat and beautiful? Why do I have to choose? Weight does not define beauty. Is it necessary to tell a skinny woman to eat a cheeseburger? Why do people complain about weight and then try to convince someone to gain more? When does somebody’s weight become you’re business? These are questions I ask myself sometimes as I stare at the people around me. The people are all diverse in body type and color and I still only see beauty while the rest of the world looks for flaws to laugh at. You’re not the only one with these flaws you feel insecure about. Wear that outfit out in public that scares you and flaunt every imperfection you have. Just remember you’re not the only one with these imperfections and body positivity starts with you. Love yourself and you will begin to love every diverse body you see around you. Those small insecurities you have will fade when you learn to see them instead of hiding them. Be proud of you’re body. There isn’t another one like it.
By Cheyenne gavranovic 3 years ago in Poets
