e Garrett Bell
M
y inspiration for my poem, “Safe,” came from my idea that everyone has different viewpoints that define who they are. My poem starts out talking about an average morning for a person who lives a life similar to mine. Many times people take their safety for granted. They wake up and fail to recognize discrimination, therefore, they are not thankful for not being discriminated against. They live their lives without having to struggle to feel equal. My next stanza begins to talk about people who live in low-income housing and struggle with being discriminated against. I emphasized on the words “sanctuary” and “tranquility” to show that they want peace and acceptance. They do not want to be hated because of who they are. They want to fit in with society and not feel like they are always being looked at with hate or spite. From there, I transition to the struggles they have to face every day of their lives. I talk about how they are “shot down” by society, because society lumps whole groups together. That plays in with the line, “They work hard, Just to get blamed.” They work hard not only to live a normal life, but also to prove that they are good enough to fit in. They spend their whole lives thinking that they are not good enough or that they are unworthy of the respect that they deserve. It is pathetic and I feel bad for them. After that stanza, I transition back into the culture that I am involved in, a culture that has not walked in the shoes of a person living the struggle. We walk out of our house holding our heads up high, greeted by neighbors and friends. We know that we are safe from discrimination. Next I transition into the persuasive and eye opening side of the poem. I begin to ask the reader questions about society. I attempt to open the eyes of the readers so that they can reflect on their own lives and maybe inspire others to change their actions or beliefs. My goal of this poem was to shed light on the fact that everyone has different viewpoints and that you never know a situation until you walk in someone else’s shoes.
We wake up, We brush our teeth, We do our hair, Our makeup, We put shoes on our feet, Then we leave. Safe. They wake up, Look for sanctuary, Search for tranquility, They spend their whole lives wishing they could be, Safe. They walk out, Shot down by the hate of society They work hard, Just to get blamed They are discouraged by the world And wish they could be, Safe. We wake up, Smile We walk out, Greetings, We know that we are, Safe. Why can’t we figure out, That experiences, Differentiate? That view points are different? That Love is the only way? I spend my whole life wishing, That everyone could be, Safe.
SAFE
8
Major: Marketing Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Mo.
