CREATIVE WRITING- POETRY

Of the many foundations up upon which humans rest, words are probably the most solid. I remember the old children's song: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never touch me." Which is totally not true. We remember cruel things people have said long after we have forgotton the person. We remember the little hurts of not being invited to a birthday party or even worse the whisper that we won't get a date for the prom. We remember the teacher who said we were dumb and we remember the prejudiced epithets that Countee Cullen spoke so beautifully against. But words without heart, without emotion, without passion are themselves less meaningful. Words need to combine with words to make a bettter word but a more meaningful metaphor.Poetry. When arrogance calls it should always be poetry that answers thereby granting a stay by humankind's feeling of omnipotence. When love calls it must be poetry that answers bringing the sweet perfume of gentleness as our hearts pound and pound; when courage calls it will always be poetry that answers as we rise above ourselves to bring about a better thing.Whe war calls,poetry is the only answer. Poetry says No to destruction and Yes to possibility. Poetry is a good idea. A good friend. A good neighbor. Let's write poems.

                                -Nikki Giovanni (Acolytes)