Poetree Challenge 21

[untonuggan]

So this poem was totally not what I was thinking of writing, and I'm still not completely sure about it or whether it totally completes the goals of the challenge. Plus, I have generally learned to trust poems that write themselves, so. Here you go.

If you're interested in the Poetree challenge for this week, you can find it here.

never learned anything from history
by untonuggan 

i used to be a historian
but it done make me mad done make me sad
all the cheatin' all the stealin' all the lyin'
all the killin' we done all through time

Ancient Rome threw people to the lions
was built by slaves and stealing peoples' land
people say, look at those buildings
they're a great civilization
we should try to be like Rome
it done made me made done made me sad

i thought, i'll take a fun class
sex and sexuality in the US
read a bit about tits and ass

but it done made me mad done made me sad
all the men who was lovin' other men
all the women who was lovin' other women
banned from livin' in supposed sin

i thought, well that's the same old story
what if I learn about fashion history
all those corsets are a mystery

but it done made me mad done made me sad
women chained in skirts made by abused workers
that's not all, oh that's not all, oh-oh
sweatshop labor, women barely girls burned
to death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
aaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaa

i thought, well what's the point
threw down my book, went to the shopping joint
saw a sign on the way that done made me mad
'bout how marriage should be limited
to a man and a woman, elsewise live in sin
I guess I just started chuckling
then fumed a bit, went on my way

it done made me mad but it done made me laugh
went to the store, past the hollow-eyed workers
souls dyin' in the hell-hole called retail
the unions died off here a long time ago, too
I see, and it done made me mad done made me sad

all our gruesome work's been exported
pick up a t shirt dress shirt sweatshirt: sweat shop
made in china guatemala hong kong mexicooooooooooo
(where they're stealin' our jobs)
it done made me mad done made me sad

could bury my head in the sand
pretend that i don't know what i know
wash out my brain with hard lye soap
maybe then I wouldn't be mad I wouldn't be sad--

or I could listen, form coalitions
local global world-wide-web
peoples' oppression isn't limited
neither is our will to unite

Comments

[alee_grrl]

Excellent. Love the shift of voice at the end (from angry and helpless to angry and purposeful). Love the references. I think it fits the challenge nicely. Labor issues often cross with other social issues. It is nearly impossible to separate the issues out.

[untonuggan]

Thanks. ^_^

[spring_dream]

I definitely agree - I like that it ends on that hopeful note that things can change.

[untonuggan]

Yes, that was definitely something I wanted to include. Glad you picked up on it and enjoyed. ^_^