Life’s a terrible thing to waist

My waist has gone up 

To meet my rib cage, 

To meet my bust line, 

I am all in one.

Pants pulled way up, 

Almost to bust line, 

Legs way past ankle,

Skirts way up from knees.  

Gut is pushed out,

Backside pushed up, 

Knees can’t handle it, 

Takes toll on my back.

5/29/2021

Posted the above last evening, then this appears in my Facebook memories no 5/29/2015.  So, six years ago, I had made some progress...

How you feel when you are not pulling your dress down as it rides up. How you feel when your dress swishes around, moving to and fro. Well, that's a stretch. There is no swishing, however, I can move it from side to side instead of it moving up and down.

OVER THE MOON

COVID-19 is by far the most debilitating illness I have ever had, BUT, in my dawning, my awakening, in the quiet, in the solitude, in the stillness, in the shutdown, it did something magical to my creative brain.  I created this blog with my daily prose.  I wrote poetry for the first time.  I became interested in creating craft pieces – had no prior interest or skill.  I painstakingly put together a glass mosaic during a lesson with my niece, Simone, on Family Zoom.  I loved it so much that I created two more pieces.  I have set up an art space in my home.  I can’t imagine what would have happened to me mentally and emotionally hadn’t I been able to occupy myself while on lockdown.

I named the mosaic  “Over The Moon,” because I see the moon when I look at it, but it has a deeper meaning for me - I am over the moon that I created it.  I am pleased to say that this piece is on display at ArtsWestchester in White Plains, NY, along with my writings.  I now wear the title "artist."  I am over the moon, for real, for real.

Anniversary

Author: Sophia Trott

A LETTER TO GEORGE FLOYD ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH MAY 25, 2021

Dear George:

It has been one year since our minds were seared with that horrible video showing the heartless police officer kneeling on your neck for over 9 minutes. We viewed the life being drained out of you as you called for your mother and continually said “I can’t breathe”.

We were all stuck inside our homes because of the Covid 19 Pandemic and we could not help but watch our television sets because we had no place to go. Blacks, Whites, rich and poor all watched as you died before our very eyes, over and over again. It was one of the most painful sights that i personally have ever seen. No longer, were we just hearing about these things happening somewhere in America, we had a first hand view. It could not be denied and we could not make any excuses. It was a day of reckoning. The Black man and woman finally felt vindicated that what they were saying all these centuries was in fact true. We could no longer fool ourselves to believe that we as a people had arrived because we had a Black man elected President of the United States and many people of color elected to some of the top positions in our government.

I am so sorry George Floyd that you had to die for us to come to this realization. You did not choose to be a matyr. You were a father, a son, and a brother just simply living your life out in the universe with plans for your future. You did not willingly give up your life but it was taken from you for $20.00. Was your life not worth more than $20.00?

There are many matyrs that went before you. There was Dr.Martin Luther King, jr., Ghandi and Malcolm but they chose that life of sacrifice knowing that they were placing their lives in danger each time that they protested, led marches and spoke to the masses. Their lives were being threatened on a daily basis, yet they continued the struggle because they believed that this was the only way to affect change. It is because of their sacrifice of life and limb that we even have some of the basic rights such as voting and the Equal Rights Amendment.

You did none of this. You did not march, you gave no such speeches to the masses and led no nonviolent movement. You were simply living your life and taking care of your family.

Your death has caused a “firestorm” in these United States. People have woken up and are protesting for change in the laws. We finally see a chance for meaningful change in America.

I am not sure how many more deaths it will take for this Country to change. Sadly to say that many more will die.

I am sorry that you had to die. We

Love

SOPHIA

The Chosen

It was a year ago, and I still wonder...

Ahmaud Arbery, I am sorry
Breonna Taylor, I say the same
George Floyd, it bears repeating
My sorrow, my grief, my pain.

Don't know why you were chosen
Will never understand why

You were the ones all chosen 

To take our cries up high.

You did not raise your hands
You did not volunteer

These never were your plans
To leave without a care.

In a car, at home or jogging
You could not catch your breath
Because, out there waylaying
Were demons dressed in flesh.

It was nothing but your Blackness
That posed a threat and fear
To those who saw your greatness
And chose to end it here.

But they misread your ending
In death, they made you soar
And caused a new beginning
We will lament no more.

Be gone, you oppressor
The death bell knells for sure
Your reign of terror is o'er
No more, no more, no more.

Breonna, Ahmaud and George

For us you paid the price
As you left, you bore the torch 

And made the sacrifice.

George Floyd, I thank you

Breonna Taylor, I say the same

Ahmaud Arbery, it's worth repeating
To you, I sing my praise.

And to all of you our fallen
For four hundred years and more
Names known and unknown
You, too, among the chosen.

Ambulance Chaser

Ambulance chaser

Chaser of the dead

You show up even before 

The pronunciation of death

At the press conference, there you are

Ambulance chaser, chaser of the dead.

News media,

Chaser of sensation

You left with your cameras

Wasn’t enough excitement for you?

Cut and dried, justified?

News media, chaser of sensation.

Ambulance chaser 

Where are you?

Was she not worthy?

Not enough excitement for you?

Not enough money to worth your time?

Ambulance chaser, chaser of money. 

What If

Were it a white girl,

Would you have shot,

Or would you have shouted "Stop?"

Were it a white girl,

Would one shot have been enough,

Or would you have pumped out more?

Were it a white girl,

And after four shots,

Would you still have your gun on her?

Were it a white girl,

Lying on the ground bleeding out,

Would you have rendered CPR right away?

But it if it were a white girl,

There would be no question,

She would still be alive today.

Taser Taser Taser

It's a taser, no a gun
"Oh shit, I shot him."
Dead!

But what do I care
Another Black man
Resisting!

That's how you kill them
Just how I planned it
An accident!

I'll never pay
I wear the blue,
I'll be ok!

But, just in case
“It’s best I resign,”
Not fired!

And that trainee,
Is just how you
Kill them!

A Knee On Your Neck

George Floyd, this is for you

My words, my time, my tears.

You paid the price as others have,
For nothing but your armor of Black.

derek chauvin, you are not worth my words
not worth my time, not worth my tears.
you are vile, not worth the living,
but a hell far worse than a knee on your neck.

Nine minutes, twenty-nine, I learned today,
He kept that knee upon your neck,
His face aglow, a conquest he made,
You gurgled your last breath, with that knee on your neck

Twenty-seven times you cried out, "I can't breathe."
"Mama" you cried, as you made your way up to her.
Messages of love you sent to your children.
You called him "sir," the one with a knee on your neck.

Blamed you for your own death,
Big Black man, always a threat.
Your heart gave out, said it was the drugs.
Would you have died, but for that knee on your neck?

Blamed the crowd, called them an angry mob,
Who tried to protect you with cameras and words.
Called the police on the police, one called him a bum.
What bravery they showed, but he kept that knee on your neck.

Baby girl said you changed the world, and you did.
But, we'll have to watch, wait and see the court case,
Will there be justice against the murderer in blue?
This time, we pray, there may be a change.

The Year That Was

Against my protestation, I got the vaccine and actually received the second dose today, March 15th, the anniversary of the day COVID entered my life.  As my anniversary loomed and with memories resurfacing, I acknowledged to myself that I was afraid of getting COVID again, so I chose the lesser of the two evils.  We all know that Evil and COVID are one and the same, however  referring to the vaccine as evil would have some taking umbrage.  I stand by evil, because:  1.  They don't know.  Who are they you ask.  They are any and everyone who has anything to do with the vaccine - scientist, FDA, CDC, doctors, lawyers, government.  2.  I am a test subject, even if unwillingly willing.  3.  I am an unpaid, uncompensated test subject.  4.  Who knows what the final results will be.

This has been some kind of a year.  COVID, Pandemic, Shut Down, Mask Wearing, Over 500,000 dead, Post-COVID, George Floyd, Election, Insurrection, Vaccine. 

This is unfinished.....

If Only

If only I had a minute, 

An hour, 

A day,
A moment.

If only I knew

How to love others as I loved myself

And cared enough to care 

About those I left in the wind. 

If only I knew

That when I brought life

My life was no longer my own

And the world was no longer mine.

If only I recognized  

That a love of a mother is never enough

If it's missing that of the father.

One does not substitute for the other.

If only I understood

That education was not only mine

That it was my duty to extend to them  

As had been done for me from mine.

If only I admitted 

That I loved the people 

So they could love me back

And make me the big man in town.

If only I could have forecast

That I would spend it all

Including theirs 

And leave me with hands outstretched. 

If only I had said 

What I didn't know to say
But said it anyway, 

Or just listened.

If only I had 

One minute, one moment 

To start again 

To make it right.

If only...

Coded Message

 

Please stop giving him press coverage.

He uses coded words.

Coded Language:

"Witch hunt" - Get ready patriots, they are coming after me.

"25th is of zero risk to me." - You don't have to go after Pence this time.

"We want no violence." - It's not violence partiots, it's war

"Everyone thinks my speech is appropriate, listen to what I say at the end." - Patriots, fight like hell. Be strong. You can't take back the country with weakness.

These Not So Hallowed Halls

01-06-2-0-2-1
In our memory is seared,
The House defiled, a horrific act
But desecrated, no, sacred it's not.

More hollowed than hallowed,
More holey than holy
The people's house, but not for me
People there don't look much like me.

Your holy book by which you follow
Constitution not writ for me
Your Acts made law, but not for me
Too many grooves within your walls.

Amended with 13th, we freed you for sure
Gave you the vote, isn't that of note?
Civil Rights Act, that's not enough?
Affirmative Action, what more do you want?

Ancestors enslaved, you need to pay,
Find those acres and the mule.
Your prison pipeline enslave us this day.
Redline, fine line and gentrify.

No need to go on, loopholes too many.
Live up to the honor upon which we bestow
Rise up, be bold and take the stance
To make it right for me and my ilk.

Stand by

I told you stand by
And the time is now
March to the Hill
No, run, come strong
I will meet you there.

They stole my win
Now give them hell
And had the nerve
To elect a Black and a Jew
This is no time for you to be weak.

Wave the flag, the one they hate
Fly mine high, I am your king
Bring guns and bombs and MAGA hats
Tie a noose and make them quake
Trash their office and get Pence too.

Don’t worry ‘bout the law
I AM the law
You’ll have time
To buck and to wild
Before I, the law, send in the law.

Oh my, look what you did
You busted, bum-rushed
And closed everything down.
Proud boys and patriots
Wow, you all did me proud.

They killed but one
A martyr we'll make
For now your job's done
Leave now, go home
And go with my love.

My face, name and words
All over the news
This is all my master plan
Don't have to tweet,
Post to the book or IG.

It can’t get worse
Or so they think
Two weeks to go, so much to do
Just stand by  
The best yet to come...

Blood On Your Hands

The man gets his jollies off.  Plain and simple.  He gets it off with every death and suffering with the pandemic.  He gets it off with the mayhem in DC.  

Months ago, he told them to stand by and today he called them in, telling them to show strength and march to the hill.  And they did.  

And when he was done pleasuring, he told them to go home and that he loved them, the same "good people." 

The worst part is he is allowed to get away with it, time and time again.  

When will he be stopped?

Blood on your hands McConnell, Graham, Cruz, Grassley, Jordan, Devins, Crawley, et al.  Blood on your damn hands.