Notes About The Poem

When there is no respect, there is nothing.

What We Need

What We Need
(RESPECT)
By Franklin Price
06/24/2020

What we need in times of struggle
Is a place we can connect
We the people need to search for 
Common ground for some RESPECT 

Otis Redding wrote RESPECT 
A thought provoking song
Only made a minor mark
'Til Aretha came along

She put her whole heart in it
RESPECT, her final goal
For RESPECT for one another
We must reach down in our soul

If you haven't been there
Then you don't know what it's like
To be called by disrespectful names
Honky, n----r , wet back, dyke

Now I've gone and done it
Put the words down on the page.
Is the anger welling from you,
From a long time pent up rage?

Life is not of black and white
And the differences of  races
It's of RESPECT for one another
And our common times and places

We all are brothers, sisters
Why can't we all just get along?
Have RESPECT  for one another
Listen to Aretha's song

If that doesn't do it for you
Follow the Golden Rule
Treat others, as you would like to be,
Don't continue on the fool

R.E.S.P. E.C.T
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace