A Claw By Any Other Name

Drag a gasping fish onto dry land,

but don’t delude yourself,

that it can learn to prefer air

when it needs water to breathe.

Do you feel satisfied scrutinizing

with puritan eyes each claw and fang,

dismissing those which fail

to meet your standards of sharpness

instead of using the time

to value the strength of each

and understand how they are made

for a purpose beyond your view?

You must enjoy standing alone then.

I will respect claw and fin, talon and tendon

of those who howl in common cause

to ensure the world we all love

will have no shortage of protectors.

Song Choice: Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone

This poem is linked to the Tuesday Platform over at Imaginary Gardens for Real Toads

Process Note: This poem was inspired by a conversation I was involved in, where a person claimed that unless someone protested in such a manner that risked death or imprisonment, then they may as well join the other side. Aside from being such a laughably black and white view of the world (and regular readers know how much I love that), it angered me. Would the speaker say the same thing to someone in a wheelchair who has concerns about their world? How about saying that to a single mother in sole support of her children? Are they going to step up and care for those children when their mother can't? Unless you know someone's story, don't judge their ability to be part of a cause.

Do the best you can, with whatever limits you have. I'm not going to judge you for "doing it wrong" but thank you for whatever you can contribute.