Happy Poetry Friday!
This is side two of my poster that I carried in the March for Our Lives, last Saturday. The rally with high school students speaking and performing poems was invigorating, hopefull, and marvelous. The poem I’m sharing today was inspired by one of the poets there and his rap poem (I’m including a bit below). I believe these high school students have created a Movement and from this perhaps change will emerge!
SYNCOPATED VOICES
Syncopated rap
filled the stage
releasing unified
determined rage,
resounding voices,
reveal their
mission for
one and all:
PROTECT KIDS NOW
find ways of how,
hear their voices
hear their call
traveling through cities
large and small,
fall in line
raise your sign
cast your votes
for lives
not lifeboats,
now’s the time
follow their lead
not bullets
taking lives
that bleed.
It’s easy-peasy legislator–
Join the ranks don’t be a traitor.
Get warring Guns
off Streets–
Tighten regulations–
Tighten registrations–
Ban all bump stocks–
Don’t wait till later,
Listen to your people
your present-future voters
Not a Dictator!
SAVE LIVES–
SAFE SCHOOLS–
SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS–
Kids–Our future,
Kids–Our jewels,
make kids safe
with safe gun
Rules!
©2018 Michelle Kogan
The Poetry Friday Round up is being hosted by Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe. Heidi has taken the baton and given us a small peek into a new twist for Irene Latham’s hosted Progressive Poem which starts April 1st for NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month.) Thanks for hosting Heidi!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Dear Michelle, thank you for sharing your poem and your experience. Happy almost National Poetry Month! xo
Thanks Irene, I’m looking forward to Poetry Month!
Such a powerful moment. The world is watching… #hoping
Yes, that sizes it up well Kat, and I’m glad there’s an audience!
Good Morning, Michelle! I love your sign and the photos from the march. You totally, GO, GIRL! Syncopated Voices is a great title and there are great lines in that rap. Isn’t it great to see our youth take on this movement? I support them every step of the way. I think, “it’s easy peasy legislator, don’t be a traitor” is my favorite! Happy Poetry Month!
Thanks Linda, we are of like mind here! Happy Poetry Month to you too!
Safe gun rules! Protect Kids Now! I am fervently hoping so.
Me too–sooner than later also!
Our rally in DC was similarly inspiring–moments of loud outrage interspersed with moments of crushing, pained, grieving silence. Your sign is beautiful and your poem captures the rowdy, raucous charge to our leaders.
Glad you were able to partake in the rally–the charge is clear and I hope the change shows up in the polls this fall, thanks Heidi!
Thank you for sharing your march experience. All the marches–all the marchers–all the hopes. We will get there!
Yay–yes let’s get there, thanks Diane!
What a beautiful combination of art, poetry, and powerful message.
Thanks Cathy!
So wonderful to see kids changing the world, one word at a time.
Yes-and each word is so powerful too!
They make me feel rather sorry for the conservatives because their arguments that have worked against liberal adults are not working against these kids. The same thing happened with Apartheid when I was a kid.
What an inspiring weekend it was! Your poem captures the emotion and hope perfectly. Yes to “Kids–Our future,
Kids–Our jewels,
make kids safe
with safe gun
Rules!”
Thanks Catherine, and Yes they are inspiring!
I love how your poem captures it all. I wish we could’ve marched together. Your poster is inspiring.
Thanks Margaret, that would be powerful to march with you!
How can you not be inspired by such youthful passion! That rapper has some serious skills. Loved the excerpt and where you took it with your own poem, Michelle. (Well done on the sign too. 🙂 )
Thanks Michelle, they were inspiring!
Thank you for sharing your poetry and images from your experience. I am inspired by the energy and commitment young people are taking in leading the way. I am hopeful for change!
I’m looking to them for our future and hope to help with change!