Home » Poems » P.S. Awtry » Can I Say That

Can I Say That

there’s a timid little man who lives in my head
he stops me from saying things they won’t like
they--the keepers of the “you can’t say that”
the keepers of the permissible
they change
the rules
so the little man sometimes won’t let me speak
even to myself
and they are happy
but I am not. Can I say that?



11/2/2021

confusionfree verse

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Panagiota Romios

December 2, 2021 at 5:44 AM

Say it and get bruised, avoided, annd insulted. You know i am black and blue from the punches because i dont listen to the little man. Freedom does not reign here unless you are far left. I didn't know that when I came here. There are lines to follow. I follow none. Nor am I a butterfly. Life is about being you. If not you, why live? People here hail free speech but will slap you, for so doing...sad! Pangie xoxo

P.S. Awtry

December 3, 2021 at 2:11 AM

A very powerful comment, Pangie. The little man can be a tyrant if not rebutted now and again :)

Geoffrey Brewer

November 4, 2021 at 6:36 PM

Say it! And say it with the poetic eloquence of which you are capable, PS.

P.S. Awtry

November 4, 2021 at 7:22 PM

Hi Geoffrey! Thank you for your kind words. It is always good to hear from you :)

Heidi Sands

November 3, 2021 at 7:30 PM

Great one ! The censorship is unacceptable and doing much harm in our country! Blessings :)

P.S. Awtry

November 3, 2021 at 8:15 PM

Thank you Heidi :) -ps

Vijay Pandit

November 3, 2021 at 7:32 AM

Brilliantly done, P.S. Freedom still reigns.

P.S. Awtry

November 3, 2021 at 9:01 AM

Thank you Vijay :)

Victor Buhagiar

November 3, 2021 at 2:20 AM

Least said soon mended. And silence is gold. Never say anything that will bring on regret.

P.S. Awtry

November 3, 2021 at 6:58 AM

There is certainly a time to be silent cause once it’s said you can’t take it back :D Thank you for stopping by Victor. Hope all is well :D. ~ps

Gershon Wolf

November 2, 2021 at 7:51 PM

Maybe you can't "say 'that,' " but I can't even spell 'thet.' ~ Dumbed down in my post-doc program. lol. Keep smiling, Gershon

P.S. Awtry

November 3, 2021 at 7:01 AM

No way you are “dumbed down” dearest Gershon! -ps

L Milton Hankins

November 2, 2021 at 7:05 PM

By all means, say it here! I eschew all kinds of censorship. We must have the right to do, say, and write anything that does not infringe upon the sacred rights of, or bring harm to, our fellow human beings.

P.S. Awtry

November 3, 2021 at 6:56 AM

Thanks Milton. Goodness knows we don’t need to shut down the flow of ideas—never know when we will happen upon a good one :D ~ps