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The Wall of Prejudice

The Wall of Prejudice

 

Their smile is warm and reassuring

well rehearsed and convincingly given

But behind this veneer is a dark wall

which conceals a true and sinister identity

 

To be in a minority is seen as not to conform

to pose a threat and challenge the norm

Muslim, black, gay or zoroastrian

the beaming smile remains the same

 

The smile is false, rooted in ignorance and fear

often it comes with platitudes galore

It is deceptive, deceitful with mal intent

all minorities are alert to this

 

I once had a friend called Adam

tall, black and indeed handsome

With courage I told him I was gay

to which he replied, well we have something in common

 

His response left me bewlidered

but then I came to realise that

we both belonged to a minority group

these few words cemented a true bond of friendship

 

The girls flocked to Adam as he was adorable

he would wink at me and say, any nice guys here?

I would smile back and nod

to this day he is a true friend indeed

We accepted each other for who we were

◄ Cast into outer Darkness

Take Heart ►

Comments

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keith jeffries

Mon 2nd Jul 2018 17:29

Martin,
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comment. I suppose, after many years, I have come to have no fear of the truth but to embrace and celebrate it. At the age of seventy, what more can they do to me?
Keith

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Martin Elder

Mon 2nd Jul 2018 10:46

I rejoice in your work Keith in the certainty that it will spread a little less fear and mistrust and more understanding and love . This piece is no exception in this
Fab poem
.

Nice one

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keith jeffries

Sat 30th Jun 2018 20:13

MC.,
Thank you for a very well considered comment. It is much appreciated.
Keith

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M.C. Newberry

Sat 30th Jun 2018 16:27

It begs the question about HOW prejudice is formed and
it is this conundrum that besieges succeeding generations.
All of us are prejudiced in one form or another - to deny it
is simply self-delusion. The answer is individual and needs
individual courage to confront it. When we talk of it now, we slot it into fashionable categories - class, sexuality, wealth, even health. The crowd mentality is not strange,
it is visible throughout the natural world, usually as a form
of self-protection. In human terms, it becomes inhuman
when there is NO threat and it is used for power-play, a
means of cruelty of the "I'm better than you" variety.
Children know that game only too well - and, sadly, many
who grow into adulthood take than mentality with them - and they, in turn, pass it on to their offspring.
It knows no national boundaries and
becomes active when the "balance"
of what is familiar is perceived to be
disturbed (under threat?). And so
it goes on.

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keith jeffries

Sat 30th Jun 2018 10:46

Colin and Pat,

Thank you for your comments. This poem and the previous one have been inspired by recent events in my life, where prejudice has reared its head yet again, but I am no stranger to it. My partner and I will cope as always.
Thank your both
Keith

<Deleted User> (13762)

Sat 30th Jun 2018 08:57

Hi Keith, very much enjoying your recent work which comes from such an open heart. These poems reminded me of the title of George Michael's album 'Listen Without Prejudice' which seems somewhat appropriate. Hope you have a great weekend. C?L.

Pat Hughes

Fri 29th Jun 2018 23:17

You always write so well.
I loved reading this.

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Don Matthews

Fri 29th Jun 2018 15:32

Thankyou Darren for expressing
Words that are close to my heart
I was born not of the norm
And poetry now is my art

D?

PS I hope there are enough sane people here diverse and open-minded enough to enjoy a bit of my 'madness' every now and again

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keith jeffries

Fri 29th Jun 2018 15:14

Don,
Thanks, it has been corrected mate. Have another Tiger.
Keith

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keith jeffries

Fri 29th Jun 2018 15:09

Hazel,
Beautifully said and thank you,
Keith

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Hazel ettridge

Fri 29th Jun 2018 14:56

Keith, I think we need all those poor boring souls who try to keep the status quo, otherwise there would be no ocean for us waves to rise up from - no evolution or progress at all.

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keith jeffries

Fri 29th Jun 2018 14:19

Darren, Don and Anya,
Thank you all very much. Darren your comment really gets to the point mate. This site has some excellent people who are open minded and speak out boldy. As you say the ingredient of much great art. We would not have Oscar Wilde or Leoanardo D´Vnci both of whom were gay and highly talented. In their day they were persecuted and locked up. Poetry is an important art form which demands courage and people like yourselves are fine examples of this courage.
Keith

<Deleted User> (19421)

Fri 29th Jun 2018 12:48

Keith - both this and your last poem show a great strength that should be admired. And those too shallow to see what makes most of us wonderful would not appreciate your lovely lines.
I hope that WOL is a forum inhabited by sane people who embrace diversity and understand that being "different" from prescribed norms is the bread and butter of much great art!

Thanks for sharing and for your openness!

DJB

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Don Matthews

Fri 29th Jun 2018 12:47

A nice poem Keith. Am wondering should there be a question mark after ' any nice guys here?'

Don?

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