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Speak Freely ~ #poetry by @Tashtoo

Have you ever made a decision
based solely on your own wants, needs, desires?
Have you ever stood solo
center stage
spotlight sweat
no script
and a sea of darkness
where shadowed faces are hungry for your words...
and you found yourself
speechless?

If you could skip ahead to the after party
where every influence
you had feared offending
stands at your side
ready to take credit
for the words that finally erupt,
would you have ever
had cause to pause?

They have no idea how you edit
change the names
different strokes
same games.

They have no idea how you battle
speaking truth
buffeting insult
and taking so much blame
so they don't have to.

Free speech
was always a fantasy
Free will
was never a gift

DO you have the strength
the courage
to make the choice
to really speak freely
and finally
do something
with only YOU in mind?

Brain Miller has given us a plethora of choices as prompt today at dVersePoets.  Will you make the choice to come play?
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Brian Miller said…
there you go...smiles....free speech is a misnomer...you have to be willing to stand behind the words and that can be dangerous...but when you nail it...there are always others ready to jump in and steal them and the spotlight for sure...but comes to blame you can take it...smiles.
June 9, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Claudia said…
i think we are never completely free to really speak 100% what we think and want..really interesting thoughts in this tash...have to chew on some of them...i'm much of a compromise person myself and think i would choose not to speak freely when i think it would hurt someone...so see...you got me thinking
June 9, 2012 at 5:05 PM
Hot Rod Pics said…
All communication starts with the inner dialog, wonderful write, Poet.
June 9, 2012 at 5:16 PM
jackiedick said…
The only time I think I make a perfect choice for me...when I'm not thinking of others...is shall it be pistachio iceream or hazelnut? All else is always tinged somewhat by the expectations of others. ...and thanks for the reminder, Tash!
June 9, 2012 at 5:17 PM
henry clemmons said…
There are many times choice needs to take into consideration the eart making the choice. Very well stated.
June 9, 2012 at 5:53 PM
Daydreamertoo said…
I agree with Claudia on this. I think we all ought to be able to speak out minds freely but, not at the expense of deliberately hurting others. I also tend to agree on trying to compromise too and, also hate to be in the limelight with all eyes on me.
Nicely written Tash.
Yes, climb up out of the darkness and, don't look back!
June 9, 2012 at 5:56 PM
Scarlet said…
There is no such thing as free speech or making your own decision by yourself. One way or the other, we are influence by others and circumstance, specially when we work and live in the same place/area.
June 9, 2012 at 6:00 PM
pam prince said…
I like the free-verse of this. It is difficult to stand alone against critique, but as you describe here - it takes courage to stand by your choices.
June 9, 2012 at 6:04 PM
Wander said…
Good poem...I think I'll hit up dVerse later and join in.

Wander
June 9, 2012 at 7:08 PM
Anonymous said…
Thank you for shaking us! I actually felt empowered reading it... I like that you wrote about free speech... in free verse! Could hardly have been otherwise ;)
June 9, 2012 at 7:10 PM
Mary said…
Wow, is this thought provoking. I think we are often so conditioned to think of others that it is hard when we contemplate really making a decision with only ourselves in mind. Who would want to be called selfish, right?

Throughout my life I have periodically gotten into trouble for speaking 'truth.' Perhaps that quality is one of my best and one of my worst.
June 9, 2012 at 7:11 PM
Anonymous said…
Yes--very hard to not be intimidated, even by one's own inner listeners (and critics!) k.
June 9, 2012 at 7:33 PM
Anonymous said…
Some are daring. Some are not.
June 9, 2012 at 8:04 PM
marousia said…
So true - again you find such a wonderful way to say the most simple things - perfect choices for oneself are thorny :)
June 9, 2012 at 8:30 PM
marousia said…
So true - again you find such a wonderful way to say the most simple things - perfect choices for oneself are thorny :)
June 9, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Anonymous said…
I don't make decisions taking only myself into consideration, and when I come close to doing for just me, I feel guilty. Is courage or strength what it really takes or is it even possible to do? Thought-provoking piece!
June 10, 2012 at 12:22 AM
Anonymous said…
If only we could always skip straight on t the after party?! Stand up and be counted or go home I say. Here, here poet! Great piece.
June 10, 2012 at 3:53 AM
Anonymous said…
Oooh, thought-provoking - good stuff
June 10, 2012 at 4:47 AM
Anonymous said…
If your last question needs to be answered honestly, I would have to say no. But I have been known to surprise myself before...

Wonderful write Tash!
June 10, 2012 at 9:37 AM
Anonymous said…
I've recently sat in a workplace where a huge elephant sat too and no-one dared mention it yet it was what we all needed to talk about, but the person who did so would put his/her job prospects on the line , so we sat in silence and left the meeting with our own little guilts and rationalisations... Our choice! :-(
June 10, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Chazinator said…
This really intense and aware of the social/personal pressures that go into making choices. How many choices are really choices and not simply compulsion of either social origin or a emotional/physical necessity? I am glad that you got into this aspect of making choices, since it is important to ask and be aware when one might speak so glibly about what making such choices might involve, psychologically/ethically.
June 10, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Unknown said…
Strong. Love the call to action ending here, came off very powerful. Great job Tash. Thanks
June 10, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Anonymous said…
since our needs are entwined with other people's needs, if we choose something only by our needs, down the road, we may not get something else, so we never really can choose 100% just by our own needs



Princess Vadar
June 10, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Other Mary said…
Not yet...trying though.
June 10, 2012 at 5:53 PM
Cressida de Nova said…
It is a situation where you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.
I say speak out and suffer the flying shrapnel.
June 11, 2012 at 2:07 AM
DQPoetry said…
Nicely said Natasha, that was a fun read!
And speaking of 'free speech' I think that would make a great spoken word piece
June 11, 2012 at 3:29 AM
Anonymous said…
free speech- we talk about having it....but do we truly use it. Making the choice to speak with 100% freedom and honesty- now THAT is a choice...im not sure that many of us are that brave...i like to THINK i am...but im not... maybe to be a true 'artist' you have to.....this got my brain juices goin tashhhhh
June 11, 2012 at 11:55 AM
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