On My Way Home Poem by Fabrizio Frosini
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On My Way Home
On my way home, this late afternoon,
I happened to meet a bunch of
Loathsome blokes, happy toasting
Each other's success.
Such corrupt, despicable and vile people
Praised the beauty of democracy, when
Money can buy it, displaying their broad
Satisfaction for how they could bend the laws to their
Will so as to preserve and extend their privileges.
Giggling, they asked me if I knew what
Democracy was, in the corrupt reality by their
Powerful minority built. And
They also asked me if I knew where
Freedom was and how much it cost.
I was about to answer when a series of
Images from the world hit me hard, blocking my
Breath:
—Scores of ordinary people beaten and arrested
For taking part in peaceful protests;
Journalists and photographers shot at and their
Newspapers and magazines closed, for they
Wanted to show what the true face of power is
When the evil is free to spread out. Teachers and
Students being forced out of schools and colleges;
Doctors from hospitals; judges removed from their
Courts; scientists from their labs; officials
Fired for not accepting to bend to laws destructive of
Liberty; workers removed from their workplace for
their political views; ...
—And also images of women and children in long
Queues to get some food and water for their families;
Children and women, again, and old people
Sifting dirty landfills, to find something worth to be
Collected —their only chance to get a few coins and
Survive another day. Lots of poor and dispossessed
People, asking the charity for a bed and a bowl of soup.
And a multitude of hands, eyes, skins, dreams, languages,
Crowded behind bars, walls and hedges of barbed wire; ...
Inequality explodes when power is not shared with the
People!
The concept, 'if you damage one, you damage all', should be
Central in a true democracy. But it is not in the real
World —All this happens in many countries and places, for
The concept of democracy is in danger also in the most mature
Societies. Indeed, we are witnessing both theirs and
Our own decay —The decline of Civil Liberties—The
Decline of Human Values.
And too often, it's for cheap bargains.
Yes, I answered them, Freedom is in my
Heart, and Dignity is well inside my mind.
Freedom and Dignity give Democracy its
Soul —They have no price.
poem published in the book ''Time to show up - Poets For Democracy'', Amazon 2017
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it is very disturbing and makes me lose hope in the goodness of people. But there is still hope, maybe one day - there will be a real democracy.
got your msg. Thanks. I'm sending you an invitation to join our editorial projects. Cheers
Wow. this poem just blew up a lot of emotions out of me. Many countries, including my own (Malawi) do not have a real democracy. The leaders forget what is at the bottom - when they should lead starting from the very bottom. When there is not even painkillers in the Malawian public hospitals, and there is no regard for the poor and elections are rigged to put the the same corrupt government in power.
Hi Esther, thank you for your words of appreciation. Yes, in too many countries ''democracy'' is a hollow word.. and the situation seems to be even worse in recent years (((
Nicely articulated poem. It shows the reality of how democracies are working all over the world. 'corrupt, despicable and vile people.... bend the laws.... to preserve and extend their privileges'. I appreciate your deep concern for the decline of civil liberties and human values all over the world. Let us hope that the Freedom and Liberty of every human being is restored as per the spirit of Democracy. Thank you so much.
again, thank you! Indeed, we need to stress about such issue, as we see what's happening in the world!
In America we have 3.9 percent unemployment,6.6 million unfilled positions. lowest minority joblessness rate in our nation's history and yet people take to the streets and cry about this and that while good men and women go to work and better themselves. There is an element of individuals discontented with their own insecurities and as per usual they fix the blame on something else. Holding socialism as they answer despite all evidence.
Yes, freedom and justice Are priceless - Very powerful piece, now one of my fav...10!
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5/1/2024 4:09:28 PM # 1.0.0.1119
The concept of democracy is quite fuzzy in many minds.. I have traveled the years and still don't know how people think.. What does the many, the People —'Humanity'—, mean to them? Do people think to everybody or just to themselves? Generally speaking, they think themselves to be more legitimated to live and to have than the others. As a matter of fact, oftentimes people try to forget about humanity. Then a question arises: do people, ordinary people as we are, consider all to be equal in value? I’m asking, because this is the 'key' to Democracy. Do people care of everybody else as they care of themselves? Or, to put it even simpler: do people think to everybody else or just to themselves? Many people are literally self-centered: they tend to think highly of themselves, and rate the others almost naught. There are people —and not quite a few— who do not think that each of us is part of the whole. They are simply the whole to their own eyes. The concept if you damage one, you damage all should be central in a true democracy. Unfortunately, it is not in the real world. [FF]