Poetry Has Never Been About Silence

A poem, a lesson, a tribute, a connection

I may have been told That my anger might be too strong

In my poetry When I write

After listening to the news Or reading the news Or going online Or outside

As a woman As a member of the working class As someone who is aware and who cares About justice in the form of more than kindness

But in actually stopping averting calling off pushing out Fascism as it rises Racism as it expands Sexism as it continues to sneak and lurk

Ani said, I am not an angry girl Holly said, we are a peaceful angry people Audre said, your silence will not protect you Even Sherman said, poetry is anger times imagination

The oppressed know. The oppressed know. The oppressed know.

Poetry and women’s art and women’s movements Have never been about hearts and flowers, candy and dew

Anger is an emotion That comes from hurt

That stems from pain The pain of being told our lives don’t matter

The pain of being told to smile, sweetie, no one Likes an angry sounding woman

No one will read a(n) (angry) female poet (angry black poet, angry indigenous poet, angry poor poet)

Poetry has always been about expressing the real Poetry has always been simultaneously

a cry to appreciate the beauty of life and a call for justice

so that we can all share in this beauty freely poetry has always been a helping hand and a raised fist

See, you just weren’t looking you didn’t have to take it all in

privilege is not having to see the lives of others as somehow different than your own

privilege is being able to select poems about love, weather, nature, joy and think these are the only kinds that should exist or matter

In person, should anyone ever met me You will see my spirit is light, my heart is pure

You will feel my calm kindness, my nurturing, my sweet But that comes from an inner light that is

carefully negotiated Purposefully meditated

Via words Via prayers Via knowing the wisdom that is

Our progressive past, our ancestors who fought back Knowing that anger can motivate

Anger can touch people Anger can reach across

Gently And say, me too

For those who understand And can shift the comfort feelings of those who

Would rather live in manufactured peace, manipulated tranquility Where namaste simply means, be quiet

To anyone expressing outrage at injustice Or drawing attention to strange things

Like the rich white suburban co-optation of namaste I do not point these things out for fun or games

Only when we highlight the power and pain Behind individual actions Words and behaviors Can we impact and draw out and support

Meaningful change

Where people understand their privileged space and crushing place in the system

And stop telling the oppressed to Just smile and only

Write about the sunrise

Jenny Justice is a mom, Sociology instructor, and writer. You can follow her on Medium and at Jenny Justice, Writer. She has been recognized as a Top Writer on Medium in Poetry, Parenting, Reading, Education, Books, Racism, and Climate Change, so far.