social commentary

There's a rich history of poetry serving as social commentary, intended to inspire calls to action.

Grey grave & brave
I'm for those uncertain, And wisely so. We were born from chaos, & no matter the seeds we sow, The unexpected can shame us,
By Blair5 years ago in Poets
Memoirs Of My Melanin
Black, brown & tan✊🏽It’s what I am✊🏾Sunday’s best on Monday✊🏿To sit at a stand ✊🏽Why sit at a stand✊🏾If I don’t stand a chance✊🏿Black, brown & tan✊🏽Is all they see✊🏾If they don’t see color✊🏿Then they won’t see me✊🏽Statistically, is that all I can be?✊🏾Black, brown & tan✊🏿Is what I was taught✊🏽White collar crime✊🏾Is good if you don’t get caught✊🏿the hood was the only place that drugs could be bought✊🏽Same place put you on✊🏾Same place you’ll get offed✊🏿Black, brown & tan✊🏽Is what makes us feared✊🏾Not the truth from my lips✊🏿But the curls in my hair?✊🏽I learned the history that they kept from me, they should be scared✊🏾Black, brown & tan✊🏿It’s what I am✊🏽It’s who I am✊🏾Don’t touch my crown✊🏿You won’t understand✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
By Frenchie Talula 5 years ago in Poets
“Read Out Your Good Book In Verse”
Red - For blood, sweat and tears sacrificed, Fighting with my minds’ dark demons… “Month 1: ‘Have you read your Big Book?”
By Jody Bean5 years ago in Poets
Memoirs Of My Melanin
Black, brown & tan✊🏽It’s what I am✊🏾Sunday’s best on Monday✊🏿To sit at a stand ✊🏽Why sit at a stand✊🏾If I don’t stand a chance✊🏿Black, brown & tan✊🏽Is all they see✊🏾If they don’t see color✊🏿Then they won’t see me✊🏽Statistically, is that all I can be?✊🏾Black, brown & tan✊🏿Is what I was taught✊🏽White collar crime✊🏾Is good if you don’t get caught✊🏿the hood was the only place that drugs could be bought✊🏽Same place put you on✊🏾Same place you’ll get offed✊🏿Black, brown & tan✊🏽Is what makes us feared✊🏾Not the truth from my lips✊🏿But the curls in my hair?✊🏽I learned the history that they kept from me, they should be scared✊🏾Black, brown & tan✊🏿It’s what I am✊🏽It’s who I am✊🏾Don’t touch my crown✊🏿You won’t understand✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
By Frenchie Talula 5 years ago in Poets
Reverse ombre
The color of my skin - is a white that won't wash off - washed from the pages of history books - because it's invisible - not named as a color - though it's thick as White-Out - across the pages of stories of others - Whiteness is what took over the pages - and bodies - of people of color - the story of their skin silenced for ages - let it go away, a continual ombre - till it fades - till the absence of white - the absence of a color scale - and only a new color - a true color - emerges, a flowering heart, - pulses - remains.
By Gale E Hemmann5 years ago in Poets
We're All Just Dolls, Aren't We?
putting on my make-up again, trying to filter out the pores, wondering where I'll go wrong— I see the plastic glaze my skin.
By Jillian Spiridon5 years ago in Poets
The Goddess
Wrapped in ribbons of red, The Goddess wondered why there was no one to gaze upon her now. They had professed their love only just this morning,
By Jacynta Clayton5 years ago in Poets
I wore a suit of blue
I wore a suit of blue, it really looked quite neat I polished up my shoes, to walk a lonely beat. I learnt the law and trained to run
By D-Donohoe5 years ago in Poets
My Perspective
Sometimes I stare in the mirror I peer Try to Decipher At moments I wonder…. Desperate to realize What truly make me me.
By Ama Aidoo5 years ago in Poets
Pink
You were born on a gray and cloudy night. The Star remained absent, callously, out of sight. I was biblically informed,
By Ester Williams5 years ago in Poets
The Power of Design
Design. It's everywhere. At home. The local coffee shop. The office. Doctor Office. You name it, it's there. Covid hits.
By Mina Lisanin5 years ago in Poets
Pink
The colour purple when I was a child proclaimed to the world you were thirsty The simple way to let everyone around you - you’re down
By Amy Jane5 years ago in Poets