QUARANTINE LIFE: POETRY PROMPT: SELF-DEFENSE

ODE TO THE BRAWL

Remember what your mama said?

“Shun violence”, and “Use your head”?

“Keep your li’l hands to yourself”?

“Don’t go picking on no one else”?

Well, there are those who muck about

Who weren’t raised in your mama’s house

Who seem to live for starting fights

And since they think you don’t have rights

All of the evil they’ve conceived 

Just hatred, not to be believed 

Will carry on, because, of course

They have no concept of remorse

They think that their supremacy 

Erases your humanity

But, what the bullies didn’t know

Is what your mama did not grow

Is a fool, or scaredy-cat 

Sad, they never imagined that

Yes, Mama stood for dignity

For using words; for Love and Peace

But Mama said, “If they hit you,

Here’s what you are allowed to do:

“Find the nearest thing you can

And knock the daylights out of them.”

Sometimes Mama said, “the stew”

“You knock them clean to Timbuktu!”

Sometimes, she mentioned “smithereens”

“By any necessary means,

Child, do just what you have to do

And Mama won’t be mad at you.

I do not condone violence

But “just deserts” make perfect sense.”

Sometimes, people have to learn

Sometimes, tables have to turn

At some point, enough is enough

Folk get real tired of stupid stuff.

You see, it only takes one time

For consequences to align

With Justice—and with karma, too

To make folk think before they do.

One can’t be hurt, and broken-hearted 

When the crazy brawl one started

Ends, with one handcuffed; on the ground

With law enforcement all around

And witnesses— cameras in hand

Ready to share all that they can

Now, one is sad; full of regret

Getting dragged on the internet 

Now, the butt of memes and jokes

Bringing shame to all one’s folks

Losing respect, and time, and wealth 

Next time, keep one’s hands to oneself.

THE SLAP

Think back to the shock and awe

As Endicott held his sore jaw

He hit first, then, Tibbs hit back

And that, Friend, was the end of that.

You’d think that cinematic lesson 

Would give bullies something to chew on 

But some lessons need to be shown

Apparently, all some have known

Is never facing consequences 

No matter what the circumstances 

Let’s hope, this time, the lesson sticks

If you hit, EXPECT to get hit

Let’s pray, this time, the message sticks

And people won’t think politics 

Has given them immunity 

To act out with impunity 

‘Cause, clearly, it’s some folk’s first spin

At being on the receiving end 

Of how badly they’ve treated others

They failed to see as friends or brothers 

And they don’t like it—not one bit

Guess there’s no fun in getting hit…

#thebrawl

#consequences

#bullying

#playingvictim

#selfdefense

VRWc2023