Gershon Wolf | + Follow Poet |
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It's Hard To Grow Up White

Of this, I've always wanted to write
   How hard it is to grow up white
The very idea makes people uptight
   Enough to cause a gigantic fight...

In this, the age of the diverse
   There isn't much that could be worse
White skin's a plague, a veritable curse
   It almost seems to be perverse...

So I've put this off as long as I can
   Knowing the flames that it would fan
And how it would be roundly panned
   If not utterly and completely banned...

Yet now's the time for a principled stand
   This is the moment; here is my plan:
I stroll every day 'neath the sun in the sand
   ~ To turn my stubbornly white skin tan



                  September 05, 2019
 Write the Poem You Have Always Wanted To Contest
                Sponsor: Caren Krutsinger

Copyright © Gershon Wolf | Year Posted 2019

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Pratap Roy Date: 1/5/2020 10:38:00 PM Congrats.... Nicely written. God bless you. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 1/6/2020 1:09:00 PM Thanks for seeing the humor in this, Pratap. Best wishes, Gershon

Robertina B. Date: 10/3/2019 8:16:00 AM A belated congratulations on your win, dear Gershon.. An amazing write.. So happy you were able to write this.. I commend you, my friend.. Really enjoyed this!! Have a blessed day.. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 10/3/2019 11:58:00 AM It's always a pleasure and a privilege to hear from you, Robertina. Thank you so much for your encouragement. Cheers, Gershon

P.S. Awtry Date: 10/1/2019 6:10:00 PM I think you have found the cure to the white man's dilemma, a tan (and humor)! Much enjoyed :) Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 10/1/2019 9:06:00 PM There you go! White man's burden erased! LOL. Thanks, P.S. Cheers, Gershon

Alexis Y. Date: 9/9/2019 10:17:00 PM Hi Gershon, I can't believe you wrote a poem such as this. In all seriousness I commend you for writing the poem that you always wanted to write. In fact I think I respect you more for doing so. Congratulations on a well deserved win. Have a great night my friend;-) Alexis Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/10/2019 9:39:00 AM Thanks for the feedback, Alexis. I guess I knew that this one would strike some as strange. That's alright. Appreciate your change of heart. :) gw

John Hamilton Date: 9/9/2019 10:43:00 AM Great write Gershon, reminds me of Richard Lamoureax's poem Middle aged white man. It's a sad day when we have to be embarrassed about our skin color because so many whites have abused others(non-whites) over the centuries, we get judged as racist often because of our skin colour even though they don't know us! Login to Reply John Hamilton Date: 9/10/2019 9:30:00 AM Reverse racism, I believe it is a real thing, I can tell when I'm friendly to some blacks you can see the initial hesitation, and then usually rejection, but I guess it makes sense when one has been mistreated their whole life, it's hard to trust! Gershon Wolf Date: 9/9/2019 11:48:00 AM Thanks for the in-depth comment, John. You're right. It's sad. And it's racist too. (I think it used to be called 'reverse racism.'). Best wishes, Gershon

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 9/8/2019 9:37:00 PM I can relate to this Gershon. My Irish skin turns red not tan. Amidst the island colors I don't fit in but age has helped me become an Aunty which pleases me. I loved your winning poem! Congratulations on your top win! : ) xxoo Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/8/2019 9:47:00 PM Thank you so much for your clearly heartfelt congratulations, Connie. Much appreciated. ~ Gershon

Tom Cunningham Date: 9/8/2019 2:20:00 AM Back with congrats Gershon. Tom Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/8/2019 11:10:00 AM Thanks, Tom! ~ gw

Regina Mcintosh Date: 9/6/2019 8:29:00 AM Wow. This is just amazing... I loved it. I'm adding it to my faves. You have a great week and many blessings. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/6/2019 10:23:00 AM Regina, thank you for visiting my site, and especially for faving this one. Blessings, Gershon

Lindsay Laurie Date: 9/5/2019 8:29:00 PM G'day Gershon … It really is the colour of the heart that matters. With movement of tribes and cultures and intermingling, ignorance, fear, and need of educating together would go a long way to ease things, but I will admit, I enjoyed tanning up in summer. Now I must worry about skin cancer - thank you Gershon for your insightful verse - Lindsay Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/5/2019 8:32:00 PM Lindsay, thank you for your enlightening comment. Your thoughts are always a joy to read. Appreciated. ~ Gershon

Tom Cunningham Date: 9/5/2019 12:47:00 PM Depends what area you live in I suppose, what matters is the what colour you are inside and whether or not you have racist tendencies', a person's colour never bothered me but I know it bothers some. Well written piece Gershon. Tom. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/5/2019 1:27:00 PM Thank you for your feedback on this one, Tom. Best wishes, Gershon

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 9/5/2019 11:42:00 AM I love it Wolf Man. xomo Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/5/2019 1:26:00 PM Just think, Mo: Remove the 'fe' and you too are male. Or you can remove the 'wo' and you are 'men.' LOL. :) gw

Panagiota Romios Date: 9/5/2019 11:23:00 AM Don't expect many comments, and know I might be wrong as you are popular here. A FAV for me, who loves truth in poetry.. Honesty...100% World Awareredness 100% I know you are not a White Supremacist, Nor am I! You also carry the onus of being a White male. Which some, despise. They don't even know you! Hashem does and so Do I, It's not the color of our skin that matters. It's following HIS laws that do. Man twists them like a pretzel.i know your heart. Great poem, Panagiot Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/5/2019 1:25:00 PM Appreciate your vote of confidence, Pangiota. Best wishes, Gershon

Heidi Sands Date: 9/5/2019 11:23:00 AM A great poem for the contest Gershon! Well done :) Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/5/2019 1:23:00 PM Thank you so much, Heidi. :) gw

Sandra Adams Date: 9/5/2019 11:11:00 AM my stubborn skin likes to turn red several times before it finally retains a slight tan...guess that's the curse some of us carry... love this one...nicely written my friend :) hugs Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/5/2019 1:23:00 PM Sounds like we're related by skin. They used to call me 'Red,' and not just for my (formerly) bright orange hair. Thanks, Sandra. :) gw

Chris Green Date: 9/5/2019 11:05:00 AM I really liked this and I commend you for writing that poem you always wanted to write. Bravo my friend. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/5/2019 1:22:00 PM I've always wanted to write this---for at least three to four minutes from thinking of it to execution. LOL.... Seriously, for some time now I have wanted to deal, at least tongue-in-cheek, with contemporary society's disdain for the white male. ~ gw