Gregory Richard Barden Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Polka Dot People

What would we all look like ... with polka dots?

I am now ... the enemy
          By simply being a white middle-aged man
     I have now become the symbol of 'hater' and 'hated'

Is it something I have done?
          No, because I am devoted to love and acceptance
     The eradication of ALL hate is all I care about

It is my politics, my religion, and my sole social stance
          No, it is simply because of a decision that society has made
     A reflex response to political correctness

In deference to things done by a small section of hateful folks
          Who LOOK like I do ...
     It's nothing new, sadly, nothing unusual or rare

It's been done to every group of humankind that ever existed
          And it was always a minority that created the angst
     The select few who gave the rest a sore eye

I fear that this world will NEVER be able to purge hatred
          Not so long as ANY differences exist between us
     Skin color, eye shape, clothing, status

Differences are something to fear, it seems
          And fear, we know, translates to hatred
     Perhaps tomorrow would shine much brighter -

Perchance this world would spin much easier -
          If we all woke up with polka dots
     For at least then we would be alike in a way too obvious to ignore

And maybe, just maybe, the hate would end.
          It would be no more crazy ...
     Than the reasons we find now to separate us

It would be no more absurd ...
          Than what we find on the news each day
     No more ridiculous or insane ...

Than racism.




Written and submitted on January 22, 2019
For the "Polka Dots" Poetry Contest
Edward Ibeh, Judge & Sponsor.

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Caren Krutsinger February 2, 2019 at 7:12 AM Greg, I see why this is the top win. It should have gone to Poem of the Day in my book. Where you found the exquisite photo is also curious. Love every bit of this. You are preaching to the preachers, and you are doing it well!

Edward Ibeh January 22, 2019 at 4:52 PM Congratulations on your top win in my contest, Greg!:) Exquisite poem. I love the message!

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart January 22, 2019 at 8:40 AM I love where you took this contest prompt. Good luck sweet G. xomo

Harry Horsman January 22, 2019 at 5:16 AM Oh i love this, written like a gigantic Senryu, where the imagination is allowed to run wild..Yes if we all had polka dots, i'm sure the human race somehow would find a distinction.