An Essay in Verse on Marginalization - Haiku Motif ©
Something about them
Bothers me; it’s personal
Something that’s in me
Something’s wrong with them
The way they behave or dress
Or talk or SOMETHING
They use language wrong
They say ask like its spelled ax
Can’t they just say ask
And those Harvard types
With their arrogant talking
They just turn me off
Individuals
Thinking that they are plural
Use pronouns they/them
Please don’t get me wrong
Those people just turn me off
Let ME pick my friends
I will let them be
But do not try to make me
Socialize with them
There’s nothing that they
Say or do that will alter
My views about them
It is my right, right
To pick or choose whoever
I want to be with
You all don’t get it
It’s not discrimination
I know I am right
Me, marginalized?
I say to you that can’t be
Let me explain – PLEASE
NO, you are nothing
One glance and I know for sure
Stop your jabbering
You’re marginalized
Think not, you’re kidding yourself
You’re no special case
Privilege is no shield
A high caste doesn't guarantee
Anything at all
Everyone has to
Face marginalization
There is no escape
You think you’re better
Than someone you do not know
You can tell by sight
They are a stranger
They’re not like you after all
You avoid contact
Face reality
You’re marginalized and you
Marginalize too
The possible ways
Are infinite, here’s a few
An incomplete list
You’re short in stature
I can see; ohhh I can see
Shut up, go away!
You’re not “normal” weight
I can see; ohhh I can see
Too fat, too skinny
You are middle-aged
I can see; ohhh I can see
You don’t belong here
You’re over seventy
I can see; ohhh I can see
Wrinkled skin, gray hair
You’re a teenager
I can see; ohhh I can see
Not as wise as me
You’re not beautiful
I can see; ohhh I can see
Lips warped, nose pointy
Your skin is not “white”
I can see; ohhh I can see
You’re not MY neighbor
Your skin is not “black”
I can see; ohhh I can see
Get out of my hood
Your hair is bleached blonde
I can see; ohhh I can see
You aren’t serious!
You’re a homeless bum
I can see; ohhh I can see
Go take a shower
Your voice is squeaky
I can see; ohhh I can see
I cannot hear you
You are a Jew, right
I can see; ohhh I can see
Acknowledge THE LORD
You’re a Muslim, right
I can see; ohhh I can see
Acknowledge THE LORD
Indigenous, right
I can see; ohhh I can see
Acknowledge THE LORD
You wear a turban
I can see; ohhh I can see
Acknowledge THE LORD
You are Hindu, right
I can see; ohhh I can see
Acknowledge THE LORD
You are Buddhist, right
I can see; ohhh I can see
Acknowledge THE LORD
You’re a Christian, right
I can see; ohhh I can see
Acknowledge THE LORD
You ride on the bus
I can see; ohhh I can see
I stare right through you
You wear clothes from racks
I can see; ohhh I can see
No Gucci or Coach
You tour with a group
I can see; ohhh I can see
No yachts, private jets
Your parents are poor
I can see; ohhh I can see
You’re not good enough
You have Down syndrome
I can see; ohhh I can see
I pity your life
You use sign language
I can see; ohhh I can see
You can’t be in charge
With a birth defect
I can see; ohhh I can see
Don’t even touch me
Strapped to a wheelchair
I can see; ohhh I can see
Hold up your damned head
You’re a Liberal
I can see; ohhh I can see
You seek out causes
You’re a Liberal
I can see; ohhh I can see
You want me to pay
You’re Conservative
I can see; ohhh I can see
You’re a narcissist
You’re a Conservative
I can see; ohhh I can see
Scared of no tax break
You don’t speak English
I can see; ohhh I can see
WE all speak English
You don’t speak Spanish
I can see; ohhh I can see
The tide is turning
You are transgender
I can see; ohhh I can see
You don’t dress rightly
Homosexual
I can see; ohhh I can see
PDA same sex
You defy gender
I can see; ohhh I can see
They, Them, You’re confused
Your desk is messy
I can see; ohhh I can see
You’re disorganized
You don’t think like me
I can see; ohhh I can see
Give it up you fool
You always stutter
I can see; ohhh I can see
Just stop doing that
You are a weakling
I can see; ohhh I can see
You are defenseless
I am right you know
I can see; ohhh I can see
You’re just lower class
Stop. Stop! STOP! You’re wrong
You can’t see, ohhh you can’t see
Cause you’re just plain scared
You want US to think
That we don’t have all we need
Sometimes you succeed
A zero-sum game
I don’t have it cause you do
I lose when you win
You say I need more
Don’t ever be satisfied
I bought into that
I’m not smart enough
Your rules are complicated
I bought into that
The rules are set high
They cannot be overcome
I bought into that
Don’t trust my neighbors
They are out to defeat me
I bought into that
I am slow to see
Solutions that overcome
I bought into that
I might as well quit
The rules are stacked against me
I bought into that
It never is fair
It cannot ever be fair
I bought into that
That was then not now
You buddy you cannot see
The tide is turning
We’ve opened our eyes
It has been long in coming
The time is now ours
You’ve set up the rules
Rules are a two sided sword
They apply to all
No need for revenge
But we need to overcome
Find the means and ways
We are not stupid
We will work with what’s given
We will overcome
We are not lazy
Now is the time to get down
We will overcome
We trust our neighbors
We have so much in common
We will overcome
We’re quick on our feet
We’ll implement solutions
We will overcome
We will never quit
We cannot be discouraged
We will overcome
It never was fair
But unfair rules are still rules
We will overcome
There’re slogans you’ve used
That suggest that we’re a threat
Even to ourselves
Some are meant to hurt
Some shroud your real ambition
Often hard to tell
Hard to tell or not
They create distrust and fear
They create victims
Your slogans may be
Obviously poisonous
Meant to foment hate
Hate comes from ALL SIDES
It’s always irrational
It’s self-fulfilling
We hear you chanting
Quote “you will not replace us”
We know you’re afraid
You’re afraid because
You think that you can’t compete
You don’t want to “lose”
But our gain doesn’t mean
That you naturally lose
Zero sum is false
There are other chants
“Blood and Soil” is another
That expresses fear
You are blinded by
Your own insecurities
Unfounded concerns
Once more gain doesn’t mean
That you naturally lose
Zero sum is false
Your slogans come from
Misconceptions and untruths
They’re not innocent
Admit it or not
Your slogans marginalize
There is not respect
They show a lack of
Humility and there isn’t
Dignity offered
Not only you, though,
Others’ chants are harmful too
They lack empathy
Like “Lock him up” or
“Hands too small, can’t build a wall”
Are only spiteful
Once more gain doesn’t mean
That we naturally “win”
Zero sum is false
Such chants are vicious
They are meant to promote hate
And misbehavior
These chants will shut out
Meaningful conversations
Human to human
Spite can result in
Unbridled actions or worse
Often violence
Random violence
Against any people or
Properties is wrong
Spite by the Right and
Spite by the Left is equal
It’s nonsensical
As bad as that is
They are also dangerous
They build division
Bad legislation
Bad rallies or gatherings
Vengeful behavior
A lack of support
For basic necessities
Like food and shelter
Kindness is withheld
Empathy isn’t extended
Fairness is missing
False assumptions are
Used to create policies
That target whole groups
Bad policies take
Rights that are due to all and
Deny them to some
Policies that force
Malicious capricious tests
Designed to exclude
These bad policies
Are from laws and directives
By the powerful
You say that we need
More voter Integrity
Like its been missing
True, voting systems
Can and must be made better
Not just different
You create a law
That puts audit decisions
In one person’s hands
If just one person
Decides for an entire state
Then politics rule
Voting districts must
Never be gerrymandered
To achieve a goal
Our founders spoke up
Called for representation
One person one vote
One person one vote
Must never be legally
Manipulated
As long as the rules
For voting are agreed to
Respect the results
Without evidence
Of significant real fraud
Respect the results
Knowingly spreading
Demonstrative misstatements
Is harmful to all
You say that we need
Election Security
Like it is missing
You create a law
Demanding voter IDs
Which are beyond reach
You say that we need
Actions That Are Fiscally
Responsible now
You create a law
Limiting voting districts
To save some money
You create a law
Closing vital services
To save some money
You create a law
Cutting back on mental health
To save some money
You create a law
To support a bad business
To raise revenues
You say we need to
Have arms to protect ourselves
Like more guns will help
It is true that guns
Are part of our history
This can’t be denied
Laws are created
Easing the purchase of guns
For self-protection
Guns are also used
For hunting wild animals
Or target shooting
Not all are the same
Some guns are more destructive
Don’t ignore which ones
It’s true that some guns
Used by soldiers in war are
Far far more deadly
Guns that are for war
Are not needed for hunting
Or for protection
It can’t be denied
That our constitution lets
Us keep and bear arms
The second right in
The bill of rights only says
Guns, not which or type
Don’t forget that when
The bill of rights was drafted
Guns were different
We must acknowledge
The profound differences
In capacities
An AR-15
Used to hunt game will not leave
Much meat to consume
An AR-15
Used by mass shooters murders
Dozens in seconds
A mass murderer
Succeeds even if stopped in
Less than a second
In order to stop
A mass murderer you must
Take away the tools
For personal use
Disallow those tools of war
They can’t be needed
For the guns allowed
Training for the use and care
Must be required
You say we need to
Follow our religious laws
Ban immoral deeds
You want to enforce
Banning same sex marriages
As immoral deeds
There is no such thing
As total agreement of
Religious beliefs
Religious worship
And traditions have never
Been universal
The state isn’t a church
The constitution mandates
A separation
You say we need to
“Create” jobs for your district
Bribe firms to move there
The firms that accept
Want state funds to automate
Raise worker outputs
New operations
Produce double the output
With half the manpower
The district that lost
Now has a labor force which
Has no real options
Small firms can offer
Jobs to those who are displaced
At much lower pay
You say we need to
Guard against bank failures
The great recession
Guardrails are in place
Now for banks too big to fail
Protection is there
Now these big banks will
Invest with confidence in
Big conglomerates
This looks very good
For the politicians with
Election visions
But it does nothing
For the small banks that want to
Support local firms
This leads small firms
Without the support needed
To employ locals
You say we need to
Pass meaningful tax relief
That benefits all
You create laws that
Enrich corporations and
Wealthier people
You think that added
Net income will result in
Expansion and jobs
You ignore that this
“Trickle-down” theory has been
Proven to be false
Slogans are used in
Subtle and obvious ways
To sow hate and fear
Reexamining
A few to show real intent
It becomes clearer
Let us examine
Voter suppression tactics
What are their basis
They think you’re stupid
They assume you’re lazy and
That you won’t unite
They know you’ll complain
They want you to feel helpless
They’re counting on it
They’re wanting you to
Behave irrationally
And waste precious time
They think that you have
A lack of resolve and grit
That you’ll just give up
The challenge remains
We do have the energy
We do have the smarts
We have the resolve
We have the community
We will not be stopped
Just cause it will mean
We have to work twice as hard
We’ll never give up
We have each other
And we have allies and friends
Willing to step up
We will overcome
The challenges of their laws
Use their rules to win
Let us examine
The rights for all to bear arms
To prevent terror
U.S. history
And traditions have always
Supported gun rights
The issues here are
Not the same as in the past
Firearms have evolved
Comparing a gun
From 1700 to
Now is instructive
Delivery of
Ammunition then and now
One hundred thirty times more
The velocity
Of the bullets leaving guns
Now three times higher
Gun users don’t need
To be marksmen any more
Innocents now die
We must adopt new
Rules that are appropriate
For guns we have now
Gun lobbies think there’s
A lack of resolve and grit
That you’ll just give up
Again we must be
Determined and committed
To protect our lives
Given the rules now
We must accept the challenge
And do what’s needed
Protest yes but don’t
Waste precious time and effort
Don’t forget the goals
Clearly there are some
Who use words to twist our hopes
To hide their intent
They want us to think
That they have our best interests
As their top concerns
But we know better
We must not corrupt our goals
Bargain our freedom
There’re slogans we’ve used
That demand you recognize
Many diverse groups
Just think about it
We all are marginalized
Its unpleasant, right
If you are ignored
You’re being marginalized
You are being judged
We say to the world
I am differently abled
I am capable
We say to the world
We all must never ignore
All genocides
We say to the world
Ban military firearms
From communities
We say to the world
Resist racist policies
Be antiracist
We say to the world
Remember Black lives matter
Fight racial profiles
Yes Black lives matter
Eliminate food deserts
Deliver health care
Wealth growth is suppressed
End red lining and provide
Basic services
Meet the housing needs
End predatory lending
Which boost foreclosures
Provide for our kids
Superior public schools
And with the best tools
Avoid corruption
Set up fair voting districts
And transparent rules
The consequences
Of marginalization
Are dreadful for all
For the one who is
Marginalized they suffer
Blows to their self-worth
Every blow is like
Suffering a mini-death
Recovery’s hard
At first there is grief
Helplessness and depression
Followed by anger
This is not your fault
You did nothing to cause this
But it still hurts you
You may try to be
More worthy by working hard
And hope for respect
But your differences
Are still visible to those
Who ostracize you
There is nothing you
Can do to control what is
Out of your control
You’re still a person
Strapped to a wheel chair or you’re
Black brown or Asian
No matter the cause
Sadness depression anger
Give you no comfort
If you stay angry
The ones you are angry with
Do not even care
Your anger hinders
Your soul and diminishes
Happiness and health
Anger is a trap
That causes inaction and
Prevents solutions
Anger must be dropped
In order to become whole
To be something else
The anger comes from
Helplessness and depression
THEY delight in that
When you feel helpless
You are not taking actions
No problems are solved
You’re trapped again by
Your marginalization
Preventing actions
Renew your beliefs
Take heart that your positions
Are correct and real
You are not helpless
You have the right to express
You must take action
If you are depressed
There are groups and other folks
Who are there to help
When you are depressed
Remember it’s medical
Do not feel ashamed
Seek medical care
To grapple with depression
Do not just surrender
When you lose something
It creates a hole in you
That is why you grieve
Grief is natural
Not something to avoid or
Try to overcome
Grief is just something
That we experience it
Becomes part of us
Grief’s a life lesson
That nothing is permanent
For human beings
Ultimately loss
Changes our life’s direction
Not for good or worse
We still have our goals
To strive for what is correct
And to strive for love
When marginalized
Do not marginalize back
That’s not the answer
Don’t try to control
Instead set an example
By your own actions
Hillel said if I'm
Not for myself, who will be;
Who will be for me?
Hillel continues
But when I'm just for myself
Indeed who am I?
Concluding Hillel
Goes on, and if not now when?
Take heed, be measured
Don't do to others
Things which are hateful to you
It’s just that basic
When you assign blame
Even though it’s easier
You marginalize
If you demonstrate
By demonizing others
You marginalize
Don’t use profiling
When you take that lazy route
You marginalize
Don’t give more credit
To rich people if you do
You marginalize
If you don’t invite
Her Him Them to contribute
You marginalize
If you think a child
Cannot teach you a lesson
You marginalize
If you are open
To corrupt influences
You marginalize
If you think that skill
Equates to love and caring
You marginalize
If you think life ends
When constant care is needed
You marginalize
If you fear someone
Who cannot speak your language
You marginalize
If you’re jealous of
Your boss or your boss’s boss
You marginalize
If you don’t listen
To your subordinate’s thoughts
You marginalize
If you turn your back
When a disaster occurs
You marginalize
Don’t marginalize
Spurn marginalization
Everyone will win
YOU must answer now
No marginalization
This is personal
Open yourself up
To accept the idea
That inclusion counts
Not everyone can
Live by all the same standards
Not everyone should
There must be freedom
To seek your own happiness
And not thwart others
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
What is right and wrong
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
Personal choices
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
Where they want to reside
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
Where to recreate
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
Who to have as friends
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
How they will worship
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
Sexual choices
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
Personal pronouns
Do not expect that
Everyone will agree with
Voting preferences
You gain when you fight
Your urge to marginalize
It’s the only way
Don’t marginalize
Don’t do to others what you
Find hateful yourself
Demonstrate and fight
Laws that’re designed to prevent
Participation
Campaign and fight for
Laws that’re designed to promote
Basic human rights
You gain rights only
If everyone has the rights
The same as you do
Recognizing that
Others must be listened to
Is humility
There’s so much to gain
By being truly humble
It need not be hard
Never ever be
The one to marginalize
Show humility
Take a moment, PLEASE
Consider consequences
Extend dignity!
