Marla Stone | + Follow Poet |
Narrative | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

To Shake and Stir

I often ask myself who am I?  Who am I to ask for a war to end?  Who am I to tolerate a 
war that's gone too far?  Who am I not to jump up and down in protest?  Who am I to stand 
from afar and not say a word?  My purpose in this life is to be a peace maker, a warrior of 
love, a kind person, giving more than I can imagine.  I often ask myself, do I have 
something to scream or yell that will tell people what I think?  Does anyone care what I 
think?  Hasn't this already been said in the same way, a different day, different language,  
state, country or play?  

Why do I feel trapped in a small place with a voice as loud as a fog horn lost in the 
darkness?  Perhaps, in my silent and screaming misery, I will have empathy for those true 
warriors fighting for what they believe is their purpose in life.  Even when they question the 
mission, they stay awake and obey.  Should I be the one to step in the way?  What would 
happen to me if that is what I believed to be my purpose, to protest wildly the things about 
this world that I abhor?  Would I be sent away too?  Where would they send me?  Is that 
why people are afraid to protest, they are afraid they would be protested against for their 
protest?  

I remember in the 70's when I was a little girl, the students killed, by the police, for 
protesting the Vietnam War.  They believed that was their purpose, and they were shot 
down. I just don't see anyone taking a stand against this war today?  Have we become so 
frightened for our own safety, well being?  What a diversion buying a house can be!  What 
are we afraid of?  Why aren't we saying anything really loud?  
STOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP  this 
WARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!  

We want the military to send the warriors back from Iraq, back from Iraq...that is my 
purpose today-to say that.


What I believe is my purpose in life is to question the absurdities and to fight them in my 
own special way. Writing is my purpose in life.  I know my purpose will be to write and 
offend others if I have to, in order to share my point of view.  That is my purpose.  I will 
write what I think!

In America we can sit and pray for the war to go away.  But in America our voice has been 
too low and the government's say seems to have gotten in the way.  I guess that is all I 
have to say, today.  Today that is my purpose of life, to share my thoughts and feelings!

Copyright © Marla Stone | Year Posted 2008

Please Login to post a comment