Blog, History

Color Outside The Lines

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Color Outside The Lines

We breathe the same air
and bleed the same blood
You see what I see
It sticks in your craw
and we will disagree
 
Your skin is light
And mine is dark
Our pigments differing
Geography determined
Tempers simmering
 
The Mighty Whitey
Ruled the roost
We lived under your thumb
Fearing the whip
Taken from whence we come
 
We still pay the price
For not being like you
We melt in the same pot
Freedom long since coming
We still ain’t got what you got
 
 
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

Anmol (alias Ha) is hosting D’Verse Poets
tonight.  we are celebrating Black History Month
and he has prompted us to write a poem either
using one that he suggested or one of our choosing.

I was inspired by the following
Langston Hughes Poem

"Poet to Bigot"

I have done so little
For You
And you have done so little
For me
That we have good reason
Never to agree

I, however,
Have such meagre
Power,
Clutching at a
Moment
While you control
An hour

But your hour is
A stone

My moment
is a flower

Image by geir fløde from Pixabay 

  28 comments for “Color Outside The Lines”

  1. anmol(alias HA)
    February 14, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    Your words ring true, as they are mired in our collective histories and memories. I really liked the title too. Well penned, Christine! 🙂

    • Christine Bolton
      February 14, 2020 at 3:02 pm

      Thank you! I liked your provocative prompt very much and all the responses were phenomenal 🥰

  2. 1dancequeendq
    February 13, 2020 at 6:22 pm

    Langston Hughes a favourite.

    • Christine Bolton
      February 13, 2020 at 11:19 pm

      Yes, I love his work. ❤️

  3. Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
    February 13, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    There is nothing uglier than racism… I wonder why it’s so hard to see beyond the color of skin.

    • Christine Bolton
      February 13, 2020 at 6:01 pm

      i know it upsets me smooch. It’s just color after all. We are identical biologically.

  4. calmkate
    February 13, 2020 at 5:37 am

    most empowering, so love LH s work … what a poet!

    • Christine Bolton
      February 13, 2020 at 7:49 am

      Thanks Kate 🙂

      • calmkate
        February 13, 2020 at 1:45 pm

        welcome Christine 🙂

  5. Pingback: Color Outside The Lines – Poetry For Healing | The Reluctant Poet
  6. lynn__
    February 12, 2020 at 6:42 pm

    You, and Langston, bring ugly reality of racism into sharp focus.

    • Christine Bolton
      February 12, 2020 at 8:35 pm

      Thank you Lynne. He is a favorite of mine.

  7. ivor20
    February 12, 2020 at 6:34 am

    Langston Hughes, is a truly wonderful source of inspiration Christine, and your provocative words are profound and powerful…..

    • Christine Bolton
      February 12, 2020 at 8:23 am

      I love his work. With his writing he had the ability to draw you deep into his own mind and experience what he was experiencing.

  8. kim881
    February 12, 2020 at 3:06 am

    The title of your poem is a clever play on every adult’s admonition to a child, Christine, and the poem is a powerful reminder of the fact that racism is ever-present, especially in the lines:
    ‘We melt in the same pot
    Freedom long since coming
    We still ain’t got what you got’.

    • Christine Bolton
      February 12, 2020 at 7:29 am

      Thank you so much Kim. Sadly it is ever-present. Sometimes if is just below the surface but right now it is brazenly displayed by political leaders.

  9. Sadje
    February 12, 2020 at 12:01 am

    A very inspiring poem. The difference in skin color still makes the two people, more like two species! When will things change.

    • Christine Bolton
      February 12, 2020 at 7:24 am

      Yes, such a true statement Sadje. Things will change when we stop teaching hatred. 😢

      • Sadje
        February 12, 2020 at 8:11 am

        I hope it does happens.

  10. paeansunplugged
    February 11, 2020 at 11:39 pm

    Profoundly true…both compositions! Nothing is more powerful than the truth. Beautiful, Christine. 🙂💞

    • Christine Bolton
      February 12, 2020 at 7:30 am

      Thank you my sweet friend 🙂❤️

      • paeansunplugged
        February 13, 2020 at 12:07 am

        You are welcome! 💞

  11. msjadeli
    February 11, 2020 at 11:19 pm

    Brilliant composition, Christine. Like Glenn said, it takes courage to speak truth to power. I admire you for speaking out.

    • Christine Bolton
      February 12, 2020 at 7:36 am

      Thank you Lisa. I should give you the credit for speaking out. Your beautiful poem touched me deeply. If only we were all color blind.

      • msjadeli
        February 12, 2020 at 11:22 am

        You are very welcome. Yes

  12. Gina
    February 11, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    We are Melting in the same pot, figuratively profound. I love your inspiration poem, you really have done justice with the prompt.

    • Christine Bolton
      February 12, 2020 at 7:37 am

      Thank you Gina. This was an inspiring prompt from Anmol.

      • Gina
        February 12, 2020 at 7:45 am

        It certainly was!

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