society imposes its strict rules
and one of these rules is labeling. for conformity
we are so indoctrinated and regimented
that we rarely judge with our own feelings
we involuntarily put labels: on food, on books, on minds, on feelings
and if classifications had not been invented (Linnaeus and Darwin gave us a helping hand)
we would be swimming in an ocean of shapes and colors
differing from one culture to another
but what the world still ignores and/or hides
is the greatness and uniqueness of love in all its forms
love goes beyond patterns. it is uncontrollable and cannot be classified
love your neighbor! love yourself.
love love so that you can forgive anything, without bias
and above all... love children because they will carry the torch of love further
Stand up.
Speak up.
But -
When it comes to a Black person -
You -
Just shut up
It’s funny how -
When it comes to us needing help,
Selective mutism is your only way out.
We fight the big fights,
Play the role of superhero - day and night,
We are heroes without the capes,
And yet when we need support, you hide behind the drapes,
Every other race is given grace,
But when it comes to us, no matter what we do - we are called a disgrace
When a Black person needs protection,
They see our skin, and - accuse us of seeking attention,
When we practice our right of self defence,
We are accused of a criminal offence,
Seen as criminal, for standing our ground
Then we are seen as a danger to be around.
Stand up.
Speak up.
But not for a Black Person,
Stand up.
Speak up.
If you are not Black, they won't see you as criminally liable,
Stand up.
Speak up.
Not to defend us, just to label us criminals.
Are you normal? Are you silly?
Are you pretty?
I forgot.
Are you peppy? Are you earnest?
Are you ugly?
I forgot.
So it is neither here nor there.
You do not need to be aware
of names and labels, categories.
You are your Very Self you see.
News flash ~ Bob the snob’s a slob.
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Dripping into sweet silences
that dissolve our differences.
Clocking all of the distances
no witnesses, no witnesses.
This can feel uncomfortable
if you’re not willing and able.
Leave everything on the table
with no label, with no label.
It’s okay no one needs to know
keep what we are buried below.
Together revved and set to go
put on a show, put on a show.
Appearance
is a label~
nothing is a label
appearing
as a label and
what is labeled~
and as this story
hung up on
labeling~~
liquid moonlight~~
They hunt for a name to trap your soul,
then twist the truth until it burns with reproach.
It drags the heart into its chilling, ruthless fire and spins lies that shadow a flawless glow.
Kindness cannot linger where judgment rules and only friends move through untouched by harm.
Within this shadow, quiet power rises...
a gentle light that passes every barrier.
Even as shadows gather and eyes glisten with tears and harsh words crash like a relentless tide,
the heart holds steady.
Defying all the pain,
unseen, it guards its sacred honesty.
Keep moving,
unbroken by their cruel claims for what is real outshines the toughest cries.
Like us all,
he was good at naming things,
trees, minerals, the anatomy of rabbits,
butterflies and all things
he saw or imagined he saw.
Later he had an epiphany,
he realized he knew nothing of anything
that walked the earth or grew upon it
or flew above it.
As most seekers do
he sought the advice of a guru.
“Your mother did not love you,
not in just the way you wanted her to love you,
and so, you had to name
all that she was not.
Now you are caught.
go now and un-name yourself!”
He then foolishly,
asked the wise man for his name?
….
Not of importance
But Amazon now have a new department
dealing with customers who set fire to their own packages
I could wrap you
In secret
And cling
Like double-sided
Just to keep
Your gift
From prying eyes
But I have
No label
A name, perhaps
But no concept
No complete picture
For the pieces
Of you
Labels
Are for things.
Boundaries.
Pigeon holes.
For just a
Moment
In the journey
We remove them
On arrival
Or when they are
Dog-eared
Or when they are wrong
Or at least
We should
I don't want
To label
You.
Me.
Or
Anyone
Unless
That label..
Reads as follows:
"Seen"
"Found"
"Friend"
"Unique"
"BeLoved"
"Beautiful"
"Accepted"
"Treasured"
"Marvellous"
"Just perfect"
"No changes required"
"If lost, please return home"
To use one word to describe
one so beautiful and wise
seems an impossible task,
but why not try.
Gorgeous? Delicate? Ethereal?
No, they sound too focused on the physical.
Bright? Witty? Smart?
But then you lose the art.
No matter the effort.
No matter the might.
To reduce to one word
your celestial light
is too big a job for me
and my ability to fight.
So for now you'll go unlabeled.
Unable to be confined
to a box that would bind
your body and mind.
Discard narrow labels
and relinquish belief.
Take a cue from the sun
or the fresh morning breeze,
deeming all souls as one.
Discard narrow labels,
first find out who we are;
surely not body-mind
nor thoughts we hold on to,
that grip us in their bind.
Discard narrow labels,
borne of conditioning,
placing God in a cage;
our fundamentalism
is feral ego’s rage.
Discard narrow labels
to reclaim inner light
aglow within our heart.
Let’s tip toe there unshod
and God search so jump start.
05-April-2023
Oh flesh of many colors,
brothers all are we,
placing the Holy Spirit
above us on our knees.
No matter what we’re labeled
by those who sell a grace,
when names and slogans start to fly,
be calm and hold your place.
A yearning, kindly human heart
is only satisfied
through service to our Father,
not willful selfish pride.
Attitudes need adjustment
for loving, patient deeds:
objective understanding
not subjective, deceiving creed.
Oh flesh of many colors,
sisters all are we.
Beyond the ego, church, and flag,
the truth becomes a plea.
You see I think people should have warning labels
Warning they have bad anger issues
Warning they can’t stay in one mood more than 10 min
Warning they are damaged
But I’d have so many
My list would be endless and no one would want to stay
No one would want to stay long enough to read them
No one stays long enough to really get to know me anyways
All they see is big boobs
Nothing beyond that
Warning handle with care….please….
Humans were never made to be labeled, just to be loved properly.
So if you catch yourself judging or ridiculing either out loud or silently.
That is because your ego is well intact and you think you are better than he or she.
Forgetting, we have all been forged with the same blood, bones, tissues & debris.
We all are born and die with the same breath of life.
We are all guided by whatever circumstance we were landed with by divine.
Labels and boxes, hinders us and dissipates our minds.
But it shows who can be easily influenced or manipulated through time.
I dare you to think outside the box with the invisible lines.
Use the universe as a guide and start looking at the beauty, numbers and signs.
Look within, heal yourself and look between the metaphors, between words and rhymes.
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