Sitting on the Fence
Blind indifference35 total reviews
Comment from lancellot
I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about.
You are not stirring,
So I dwell in your head.
Chose right versus wrong.
Guilty conscience heavy weighs,
Waiting for the starting bell
Blind indifference to what?
Sitting on the fence.
It seems you are saying someone isn't making a choice between right and wrong. But the right what or the wrong what? You picture is of a smiling woman and a toddler. They seem happy. There are no notes, to explain what is choices you referring to. Why does someone have a guilty conscience?
reply by the author on 28-Jun-2020
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I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about.
You are not stirring,
So I dwell in your head.
Chose right versus wrong.
Guilty conscience heavy weighs,
Waiting for the starting bell
Blind indifference to what?
Sitting on the fence.
It seems you are saying someone isn't making a choice between right and wrong. But the right what or the wrong what? You picture is of a smiling woman and a toddler. They seem happy. There are no notes, to explain what is choices you referring to. Why does someone have a guilty conscience?
Comment Written 28-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 28-Jun-2020
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Thank you Lance for your thoughtful comments.
Why do I not add authors notes? My simple answer is that I let the poem speak for itself.
Every reader comes to their own interpretation. You are a writer and a very good one. Poems are sometimes designed to ask questions. This poem is appealing to fence sitters to react to their own conscience. It only asks that the choice taken be the right and just one. The reference to "I" represents the ingrained thought that will not go away. The thought in question could be anything. In this case I reveal the subject of the thought in the photo of the black mother and child. So I chose something topical that is receiving so much attention today. I chose systemic racism that has been a part of society for so long that we who are not subjected to its daily degradation have been hitherto almost blind to its existence. I chose a photo of a black mother and child laughing and smiling. As you said they seem happy so you are viewing it like you would view any similar photo of a caucasian or any other race. That's my point we see only the human beings here, no obscuring view. So that is the rub. It is this simple fact that stirs the conscience and has stirred the conscience of millions of caucasians today who are peacefully protesting on the streets. I do not refer to the lawbreakers: rioters, looters or vandals.
There is something amiss and very wrong in the way we have not previously been conscious of the hurt and pain that our current attitude has inflicted on the black community. It is time for this problem to be finally addressed and put to rights but is up to our conscience if we want to actively take part in addressing it. The poem does not say protest in the streets. There are other ways through petitions and ballots to bring about change. It is up to the reader how they interpret the poem. Being the poet I take no offense to any views expressed by the readers, be it negative or positive or otherwise. So I welcome your question and hope my explanation has helped yo answer that question.
All the best
John
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Thank you for explaining the meaning of your poem. I'm sorry I just could not see all that between the lines. I just saw a woman and a child. Color didn't enter my mind. The character that came through the smile spoke of joy.
As for the rest. You are entitled to your opinion of what you believe others feel or are going through. I only offer this bit of advise: discrimination, stereotypes, generalization of any group is wrong, regardless if it is positive, negative or believed to be coming from good intentions.
The black community is not monolithic. Many of us hear and read the things you believe and it saddens or angers us how easily people can be fooled.
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Thanks Lance.
Just really curious about your last paragraph where you say "it saddens or angers us how easily people can be fooled". I am asking for clarification in this moment because I feel we have concluded our conversation about the poem. I would enjoy reading a new offering from you sometime in this forum where you might expand on your statement that I quoted. To see your characters ideas come to life in a literary piece would be something I would definitely read and give my comments on.
All the best.
John
Comment from Susan Larson
I think a bell was rung back in the mid 60's. So what happened? I cannot understand why all this is happening today. Were desegregation, Affirmative Action and the Equal Opportunity Act not enough? Your poem is thought provoking.
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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I think a bell was rung back in the mid 60's. So what happened? I cannot understand why all this is happening today. Were desegregation, Affirmative Action and the Equal Opportunity Act not enough? Your poem is thought provoking.
Comment Written 28-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Thank you Susan.
Yes there is still some unfinished business for sure. Those confederate statues are weeping sores in their present habitats. Their rightful place is in museums.
I hope you are keeping safe
Best
John
Comment from Mrs. KT
Good Morning, Lordinajamjar,
You have composed an interesting tanka.
I read it three times, and each time, your message became stronger.
My favorite line is the last: Waiting for the starting bell...
Thank you for sharing!
diane
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Good Morning, Lordinajamjar,
You have composed an interesting tanka.
I read it three times, and each time, your message became stronger.
My favorite line is the last: Waiting for the starting bell...
Thank you for sharing!
diane
Comment Written 28-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments. They are greatly appreciated.
Stay safe
John
Comment from Patty Palmer
Nice poem. Great thoughts to put into someone's head. The same words need to be put into many more heads and repeated often! Thanks for sharing!
Patty
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Nice poem. Great thoughts to put into someone's head. The same words need to be put into many more heads and repeated often! Thanks for sharing!
Patty
Comment Written 28-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments. They are greatly appreciated.
Stay safe
John
Comment from Raul1
This poem meets the requirements for the contest. Well written. I like how you structured this poem. Excellent work! No grammatical errors. Good luck on the contest!
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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This poem meets the requirements for the contest. Well written. I like how you structured this poem. Excellent work! No grammatical errors. Good luck on the contest!
Comment Written 27-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Thanks Raul.
Your comments are greatly appreciated.
Stay safe
John
Comment from Minglement
You are right about the weight of a guilty conscience. You've beautifully expressed the ambiguity felt by many - sitting on the fence. Would that I had a six for this insightful write. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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You are right about the weight of a guilty conscience. You've beautifully expressed the ambiguity felt by many - sitting on the fence. Would that I had a six for this insightful write. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 27-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments. They are greatly appreciated.
Stay safe
John
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You are most welcome. Take care and stay safe yourself :) Marcia
Comment from Barbaraj1
This is a well-written poem. I think too many people were sitting on the fence But maybe no longer. Maybe they hear the starting bell. I hope so.
Good image.
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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This is a well-written poem. I think too many people were sitting on the fence But maybe no longer. Maybe they hear the starting bell. I hope so.
Good image.
Comment Written 27-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments. They are greatly appreciated.
Stay safe
John
Comment from joycetreasures
Hello Lordinajamjar,
i hope all is well with you this day. This is a very powerful message in your Tanka poem about sitting on the fence or waiting for the bell to ring before making a move. It reminds me of the scripture in the Bible about unflavor salt. It is good for nothing. Silence is acceptance! I believe we all know right from wrong, however many choose to be neutral. Well penned poem. Thanks for thinking and sharing. Happy writing:-)
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Hello Lordinajamjar,
i hope all is well with you this day. This is a very powerful message in your Tanka poem about sitting on the fence or waiting for the bell to ring before making a move. It reminds me of the scripture in the Bible about unflavor salt. It is good for nothing. Silence is acceptance! I believe we all know right from wrong, however many choose to be neutral. Well penned poem. Thanks for thinking and sharing. Happy writing:-)
Comment Written 27-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments. They are greatly appreciated.
Stay safe
John
Comment from dragonpoet
This seems to be about starting to end discrimination and bigotry. The starting bell should have been rung a long time ago and the race should have never stopped until acceptance reigned.
Good luck in the contest.
Keep writing and stay healthy.
dragonpoet
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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This seems to be about starting to end discrimination and bigotry. The starting bell should have been rung a long time ago and the race should have never stopped until acceptance reigned.
Good luck in the contest.
Keep writing and stay healthy.
dragonpoet
Comment Written 27-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Yes Dragon the race still needs to be completed. The key runners seem to have gotten lost or dropped out before reaching the finish line which is in their sights when they rub the the dust out of their eyes.
Keep safe my friend
Best
John
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Joan,
It issad to drop out so late in the race.
You stay safe too.
Have a great weekend.
Joan
Comment from harmony13
The author's words are engaging, interesting, and creative. I pondered on the words of this poem. I thought about the meaning of indifference. The poem flows and connects well. The artwork compliments this poem.
Have a great weekend!
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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The author's words are engaging, interesting, and creative. I pondered on the words of this poem. I thought about the meaning of indifference. The poem flows and connects well. The artwork compliments this poem.
Have a great weekend!
Comment Written 27-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2020
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Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments. They are greatly appreciated.
Stay safe
John
