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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then NO Singing, Shouting, or Dancing Will Change that.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then Marching, Protesting, and Breaking Windows or Burning Buildings Will Not Convince You Otherwise.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then Creating Beautiful Art, Winning a Nobel Prize, or Becoming President Will Not Change Your Mind.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then A Pill or a Visit to a Clinic to Simply Erase My Existence, Will Seem like Business as Usual.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then Marching Thousands of US in Below Freezing Weather to Another Location Miles Away in Germany or Other Neighboring Countries, Will Not Cause You to Blink an Eye.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then Taking Our Children, Raping Our Men and Women, Enslaving Our Descendants for 400 YEARS and Calling it Civilized, Will Not Cause You to Think Twice.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then Devout Muslim Brothers Waking Early to Drive a Car, to Bomb a Hospital filled with Innocent Children and Infidels, While Hoping to Get 10 Virgin Brides in the Next Life Sounds Like A Winning Game Plan.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then Anglo Saxon Protestant Men, Who Claim to be Christians, Burning Churches, Mosques, or Hanging Black, Chinese, and Native American Men and Women In a Tree, Will Seem Like a Sunday Afternoon Treat, or Picnic Event.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then WHY Should I Continue to Build Your Schools, Businesses, Economy and Community?
Only to be told Repeatedly that I will Never be A Part of It?
To Say that I will Never Share Equally in the Fruits of This Great Country.
IF My Life Does Not Matter To You, Then Why Am I Paying Such a High Price Merely To Live?
Because My Life Matters To Me.
My Life Matters to My Wife, To My Children and the Community of Which I AM A Part.
MY Life ALSO Matters to Yeshua or Jesus Christ, So Much that HE Was Willing to Leave Heaven, Put On an Earthly Suit, Live for 32 Years, and Die Naked on a TREE. Just SO that I Might Meet Him One Day.
He Would Have Done it IF The Whole World Looked Like Me, A BLACK MALE.
Or Like YOU, NO Matter If You are WHITE, YELLOW, BROWN, or SOME OTHER COLOR Under the Sun.
SO I ask you, Does My Life Matter To You?
Sincerely,
A Voice Crying In the Wilderness.
Author: Paul Cumberbatch, (April 19th, 2021)
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2021
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
My Name is Paul & I am a Young Black Male
My Grandmother's Father was from Great Britain, his Family came to the New World to Stake their claim
He was a White Male
I Never knew Him
My Grandmother was Mulatto,a Half-Breed, a Mixed Child, Ostracized & condemned before ever being born
It is My Inheritance,a Part of My History Often Over-Looked,Ever Present, But Never Forgotten
For the Cumberbatch Family were Plantation Owners, thus they Used, Owned & Benefitted from Slave Labor
They Migrated From The UK to Barbados The Bahamas,& Numerous Other Caribbean Countries
I say all this to State that History is Complicated
In 1973 when the UK Shed its Former Colonies,who were More Expense than Profit, My GrandMother's Family were left in the Wake
Mulatto Children Not Accepted in the Local Community because they looked too much like the Slave Owners
Yet Neither Accepted or Allowed to come to the UK to join Extended Family, For they would not be Accepted Here
So When You See Me, Yes I am Black,But do You See My History, My Heritage, The Lives of My Ancestors who Also Came from the Home of Your Ancestors?
I think if you Scratch beneath the Surface, Many of US Black or Negro Citizens Have Caucasian or White Ancestors or Members in Our Family
SO Why Don't You See ME?
Is It because WE have Married, Mixed & Had Children of all Creeds,Colors & Languages?
Or Is it More Basic,That By Seeing Me Will Force You to Acknowledge that What Happened to My Forefathers & Mothers was Wrong?
Yes For Some Of Them Were Slave Owners, But Others were Slaves, & to be Neither Accepted in Either World is a Very Hard Road to Trod
I think that Violence will Continue, Unrest Will Persist & the Present System or Status Quo Will Remain until It is No Longer Profitable To Continue
Slavery Ended Not Because of Any Moral Awakening, Epiphany or a Sense of Conscience, But Merely because it was cheaper to Produce the Same Items Via Another System
Thus The Caste System in India Was used Instead
Till You See Me, Not As One of Them,But One Of US
One of Your Own, One that Someday May Marry Your Son or Daughter,then I will Forever Be an Outsider, thus Not Good Enough and thus Eligible to be Brutally & Inhumanely Treated At Your Discretion, Just Because You Can
To Say that I Have Become Numb to These Senseless Acts of Violence is an Understatement
I Wonder Do You See Me Now?
Or Will You Ever?
Sincerely
Disillusioned Son of The Soil
Author Paul Cumberbatch (August 27th, 2020)
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2020
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
My Heart Bleeds Red, and I Think Yours Beats Blue.
Living together as Neighbors with a White Picket Fence between, Since Our Kids were in Kindergarten, Now they have families of their own, and have Left the Nest.
It Never Bothered Me, because You Were always Reasonable, Till Now.
I Guess it’s Hard Seeing Clearly from the Other Side of the Divide?
We Once ate Dinners, Celebrated 4th of July Barbeques’, and Childhood Milestones and Achievements together,
Now Not So Much.
I Wonder What Has Changed?
It seems like Yesterday when We ate Thanksgiving Together, if Only For the Kids.
I See you both Tending to the Beautiful Rose Bushes in the Backyard, but almost Feel like it Would Be an Imposition To Simply Say Hello.
I Hope that the Cracks, or Crevices, discovered through the passage of time Will Soon Mend, For We Miss Our Friends.
I Never Knew the Changes that Could Come About Over the Process of One Four-Year Period?
When the Term is Over, and the Walls Taken Down, I Wonder If We Can Get Back There?
When Red Was Simply Red, and Blue Was Still Blue, But We Were Both OK With That, and Were Neighbors Anyway.
Friends Who Loved, Laughed, and Cried Together Through the Years.
Till That Day, I’ll Hold Those Fond Memories Close.
Sincerely,
A Guy in A Red Shirt, With a Blue Heart
Author Paul Cumberbatch (July 24th, 2020)
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2020
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
Dear Father Abraham,
I Know that Too Much Time has Past, Events Taken, and Choices Made that Forever Changed the Course of History.
I am a Son Not by Birth, but by Adoption, You See I Follow the Teachings of Your Son Yeshua.
A Man Who Came Long Ago, Was Crucified on a Tree between Two Criminals, and was Raised the Third Day, Which Made My Acceptance Possible.
Father I Only ask Now, for without You, I would be destined for an Eternity Separated from God.
The Old Writings State that On That Day You Had Three Visitors, One Whom Resembled The Son of Man, or God Himself.
They Brought Good News that Sarah who had been Barren Till Now Would One Day Have A Son, and You An Heir to Carry On Your Family Name.
Time Passed, and You Both Growing Older with No Fulfillment of the Promise in Sight.
A Choice Was Made to use Hagar as the Possible Vessel for its Fulfillment.
The Result a Beautiful Baby Boy Named Ishmael, Who Grew to be a Wise and Strong Young Man.
All Was Well Till The Fulfillment of Time had Come, and God’s Promise To You and Sarah resulted in a Child also, Who Would be Called Isaac.
Now there exists Two Sons of Abraham, One of Hagar, and the Other Of Sarah, but Both Are Your Seed.
Father Abraham thousands of Years have Passed Now, Since Those Moments In Time, And Much Blood Spilt Pondering the Question Which One is The Rightful Heir?
For Two Great Multitude of People(s) Resulted from Those Choices Made. The Sons Of Ishmael Became the Muslim Race, and the Sons of Isaac Would Become The Israeli or Hebrew.
I Know that as a Gentile I Have No Right to ask, but It was on My Mind.
Looking Back at the Wars Fought, Blood Spilt, Lives Lost, and Time Spent, Between the Descendants of Your Two Sons.
If You Could Go Back, and make Different Choices, Would You?
Is there Any Way To Bridge the Divide?
There are No Easy Answers, Only More Questions.
I Don’t Know if it is Even My Place To Attempt to ask the Question at a Possible Way Forward?
I Only know From the Outside Looking in, that They Are Both Your Sons, and I a Gentile, don’t Know all the issues, or May Never Completely Understand them, or Have Any Possible Answers.
Father I Wonder What Do You Think?
Sincerely,
A Confused Gentile
Author Paul Cumberbatch (July 30, 2020)
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2020
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
Freedom of Expression is Only Free to The Members of The Dominant Class, Race, Religion Or Segment Of Society.
For The Rest of US Payments May be made in Blood, Tears, Rights or Civil Liberties.
I am a Brother of a Different Race, Ethnicity, Color, Language and Creed, Though I Can Identify With Your Journey.
For My People Walk a Similar Road.
We have Known Slavery, Whips, Chains and the Continued Attempts to Silence Our Collective Voice(s).
This Road is Long, the Path is Steep, and the Friends willing to travel with you are Few, But I would say to be Encouraged.
You Will One Day Get There, If You Are Willing to Continue the Journey, Endure the Race, and Aim towards the Higher Calling.
Though Water, Time Zone(s), and Distance May Separate US, Know That If Your Pursuit is Positive, Intention(s) Are Honest Regarding the Freedom of All Citizens, and your Motives are Sincere and Pure, Then I Will Stand With You.
The World is Watching, Documenting and Praying For your Positive and Peaceful Resolution.
Best Regards
Paul Cumberbatch (Author, December 12, 2020)
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2020
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
I Think that I Saw You Today, Or at Least a Version of Who You Once Were.
I am Trying Hard to Hold Onto Memories that Once Captured the Beautiful Experiences Shared, that Now Seem to Slip Away With The Passage of Time.
I Don't Know if I Should Embrace The Present, Enjoy Each Day and Cherish The Time Left, Or Recollect the Past and Remember What May Never Be Again?
Your 60th Birthday was a Milestone That Seemed to Hold Such Promise.
Retirement in Five Years, Travel, and the Beginning of the Golden Years.
Now It Appears to Be the Beginning of When It All Started.
You Were Here to Change My Diapers, Give Bottles, and Provide the Nurturing that Every Child or Infant Needs.
Now I am Here To Play a Similar Role, Though I Wish it Were Not Left to Me Alone, For I am One of Six Adult Children.
Should I Try To Make It Easier On You, By Not Pushing Too Hard, Or On Me By Encouraging You to Remember The Past that Is Now Lost?
Maybe This Process Makes It Easier To Let Go?
I Don't Know, I Only Know It Hurts To Hold On Like This.
I Wonder IF I Let You Go, Will You Even Notice?
I Know that If You Were You, Then You Would Care.
I Just Know that This is a Long and Lonely Road.
Sincerely,
Your Son,
Author Paul Cumberbatch (November 3rd, 2020)
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2020
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
The Blood of My Fore-Fathers was spilt building this land too!
Though I think at Times People seem to Forget, For History Books May Never acknowledge their names.
I am here, Because they Came Before.
Their Legacy runs through My Veins.
The Economic System of Slavery brought them here, Though The Powers at the time called it Spreading Christianity, and Doing God’s Work.
There were the Spanish, Italians, Portuguese, and the British, All Seeking to Stake their Claim on The New World.
Some said they Sought a New Route to the West, A Path to the Orient they Claimed.
Others simply stated that New Territory was needed to Support the Citizens of the Motherland Back-Home.
Though the Romans did it Best, for it was Not only a Science, but a Way of Life.
Where it mattered Little if you were Greek, Jew, or Barbarian, If One we’re Not a Roman-Citizen they may be Eligible to be Enslaved.
I know that the System has Changed Through the Years, though it’s Effects have Endured the Test of Time.
Our Fathers Have Worked in Sugar-Cane, Share-Cropping, and Cotton-Fields, though Now we Want More.
When we First Came Here, The Natives seemed More an Inconvenience than Guide by the Powers that Be, Thus their Voices Were Soon Silenced.
I Wonder if Enough Time has Passed, Blood Spilt, Payments Made, and Understanding Obtained, for My Voice to be Heard?
Sincerely,
Son of The Soil
Author Paul Cumberbatch (July 22nd, 2020)
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2020
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
Dear Dr. King,
I read of your struggle(s) over 50 years ago, & my heart brakes for how your life was taken prematurely on that day
I am a young black male, living in the year 2020
We have achieved some of your dreams today, all colors black,white,yellow & brown can now eat together at a restaurant, we can enter the same front door at work,& even sit next to each other on a bus,subway,or plane ride
I know that I have never written before, but I have read about the courage you displayed, on your walks through the streets, sermons at many gatherings of our young people seeking comfort,& solace
I don’t know what words you can give me now?
I look to the Book that you talked about, I read from time to time,& in it I see where you often speak about the ideals of Peace, Love, Forgiveness, Temperance, & Long Suffering,beliefs which I long to have, but feel like I fall short all too often
You see, today I feel really disillusioned that the virtues which you spoke of, the dreams you had, & the embodiment which you embraced,are wonderful, but I don’t know if I am able to live up too them?
I reflect on your fellow armor bearer, and soldier at war Brother Malcolm.
In my heart at this moment, I feel his blood rushing through my veins, I feel his words,thoughts,& beliefs running through my mind
Dr. King, when will enough,truly be enough?
We have been down this road before
When you were here, you were willing to reach the mountain-top,& see the “Promised Land”, though you never made it in,like Moses you were taken to see Yeshua
I live present day, in the Promised land, but my thoughts are often of having the courage that you displayed daily then
For the times have changed, some new opportunities have been granted,but the dream of equality still seems a few generations away
My question is should I be willing to offer my life for the Struggle, like you & brother Malcolm did, if the virtues you talked about may never be realized?
Or do I live daily trying to be at peace, when inside my heart burns?
My heart hurts not only for the dreams, aspirations,& goals that are in my mind, which I now realize are unattainable, not because of lack of talent, discipline,or will, but because the Gate-Keepers don’t think I am worthy to have them
Father King, I need guidance, to have hope,to sing those old spirituals, or to even utter your words “Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God Almighty I am Free at Last”
For I don’t truly feel Free
Sincerely,
Concerned Black Male
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2020
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
I Was 17 When You Left.
More of a Spank Instructor Than An Ideal Father Was Your Role In My Life.
I Never Thought I'd Miss Much.
I Felt More Sorry For My Two Younger Brothers.
I Did the Econ Degree Thing, Came Back From College, And Never Skipped a Beat.
I Got Married, Had a Daughter, And Didn't Think You Would Ever Need To Know.
I Guess I Should Thank My Sister For Our Reconnection, For She Often Encouraged, Prodded, And Insisted That We Meet Again.
Though Living On the Same 21 Mile Long by 7 Mile Wide Island, I Avoided Your Farm Like The Plague.
Through the Years You Were Away, I Never Knew What Kind of Love, Lust, or Force of Nature, Could Keep You From Your Wife, Eldest Son, and Two Young Boys, For All Those Years?
WE Heard About The Other Women, Children, And Relationships, That Kept You Away.
I Always Wondered Why Our Love, OR Maintaining Communication With US, Was Not Enough To Make You Stay.
What Did They Have, That We Did Not?
I Don't Know IF I Could Turn Back Time, And Change Things, If I Even Wanted To Anymore?
It Has Been A Year Now Since You Have Been Gone.
And The Thing Is That I Can Visit Your Grave, But You Can't Return to Me.
The Last Five Years of Your Life, We Did Reconnect, And You Met My Wife, Daughter, And Heard Of The One On The Way.
We Shared Laughs, Joys, And Tough Conversations That Shook Me To My Core.
I Think That I Told You "I Love You" More Times Over This 5 Year Period, Than Any Of The Other 30.
It Was Nice Just Being A Part of Your Life Again.
What I Never Realized, Is That You Never Stopped Loving ME.
I Only Know Because I Asked " If You Still Cared", And You Said "That You Never Stopped."
I Never Knew That I Needed, That Validation From My Earthly Father.
I Never Knew It Was Missing.
I Never Realized How Important That Validation, Was To Me As A Young Man, And Now As A Father Too.
Now That I Had It, OF All Your Gifts, It Is One I Cherish Most.
I Will Try To Continue To Forgive My Father For The Years Spent Away, The Human Experiences Or Mistakes That I Perceive That HE Made, And The Lessons Not Taught Because You Were Not There.
But Most Importantly Because I Want My Wife and Daughters To Forgive Me For The Mistakes, Sins and Mis-Judgements That I Make Daily.
One Day Dad I Will See You Again!
Sincerely,
Your Son.
Author - Paul Cumberbatch II (June 7th, 2021)
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2021
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Paul Cumberbatch Poem
Dear Single Mother,
Who Works two jobs of 12 - 14 hour days to keep the lights on, & to feed little Johnny.
I See you!
Single Father Who Works stocking shelves and driving Uber at nights to feed little Sally, who has been fighting diabetes for the past three years.
When Insulin Prices keep going up, with no end in sight.
I Hear you.
Mother You have given me Values of Hard Work, Positive Ethics, To always Keep Trying, and to Never Giving up though the road is long. I See you Now, Sorry for not being able to before.
Dad, You worked long hours to keep the mortgage paid, food in the Fridge, and clothes on our backs.
Thank you for Never giving up on Me. though there were times when you were probably tempted.
I Feel your Presence, though You are Now Gone.
Mom and Pop, as Grandparents you were the best, always providing a safe place to Play, Feel Wanted, and to Let me Know that I was Loved, Even when I did not feel it at Home.
I am Learning to Understand you Now.
Young Bro, Though Waking up is Hard, do it anyway.
Though you are encased in a 4 ft by 10 ft cell with metal bars preventing your escape, & a roommate to keep you company. Arise Anyway.
For they can enclose your body, and shackle your arms and legs, but they can Never hold Captive Your Mind and Spirit.
You are More than the sum of the worse Events taking place on one day, culminated by a Prison Sentence.
You will One Day Breath Freely again.
We in the Community Miss You.
Your Love, Presence, and Humanity is Missing while you are away from Us.
So Hurry, Please come Back Soon.
We Love You Still.
For You are Still Our Son,
You Are Still Our Eldest Name Sake.
You Are Junior.
The Boy who Grew to be his Father's Son.
The Road was Long and Hard, & at times Unjust and Not Fair, but We Are Counting on You
So Do All you Can to Come Back Soon
Young Professional, You Make Me Proud.
You went to College, Got Certified & now have your CPA, or PHD & all of the privileges that come with,
We Need You.
We Need You to Show the Young Bucks Another Way to Live.
We Need you to Mentor Our Young Men, who Seem to be Slipping through the Cracks,
I Know that you have Walked Here, & that you have Now Moved to the Gated Community in the Suburbs.
That Your Future is Bright & that you Have The Wind at your Back.
Please Don't Forget Us.
Copyright © Paul Cumberbatch | Year Posted 2023
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