senses over salted, so
many flavors offered,
Baskin Robbins had 31,
we pick the one for
the moment but tomorrow
it will be different
our stances are made on
pits of quicksand, spread
thin, or until it sinks not
that we re-think, or think
anything, cause when you take
a stand you are libel,
to get shot, flip~flop, wish~
wash, it all comes out in the
laundry except those pesky
stains of indecision to
which we plead the fifth,
it's not my responsibility
what's that you said?
SPEAK UP!
what do you stand for as
you sit there in the comfy
chair, click, click, clicking
the time away? say, they
dont call it LA-Z- boy for
nothing, oh i'm just playing,
stay silent---
it's easier that way.
written for Magpie Tales
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88 comments:
Lots to ponder upon. I can relate to those "pesky stains of indecision" but you know something? Once you do take that stand and speak up, there's no turning back and I'm kinda liking that.
I think we all have to work up to our moment Brian, great post. smiles.
so yeah...take a pass on that salt
"stay silent, it's easier that way." all so nicely said. as if you could put words together in an awkward way!
ツ my cyber house rules
Invigorating lines. I cannot pick out my favorite. Love the idea though of just staying silent. I am a coward, I guess.
QMM
mint chocolate chip is/was my flavor of the day... today for hearts day!
Yes, lots to ponder. We MUST take a stand. I'm thankful for my pastor, who seems completely fearless (yet loving) in taking a stand whenever it's needed.
This post brought back memories of when we lived in California. We'd buy ice cream at the Baskin-Robbins training store at 1201 S. Victory Blvd in Burbank, California. The guys behind the counter were often franchisees-to-be, in their 30s or past.
Take a stand! Take a stand! Look what the people of Egypt have accomplished!
No one listens when you try to speak up anyways...sorry, that comes from my job experience. I guess in my 15 yrs., I've become a bit cynical. I'm sure you've been there too.
many layers to this one...much to merinade on...
And yet you title this Silence is Deadly. Yes, it easier. Not always a good idea, but easier.
'our stances are made on
pits of quicksand, spread
thin.." or as Dylan said "people do what's comfortable, then they repent..." or something like that. All too true, my friend.
Okay, couldn't stand it, had to look up the full quote:
"You always said people don’t do what they believe in, they just do what’s most convenient, then they repent
And I always said, “Hang on to me, baby, and let’s hope that the roof stays on”
(from Brownsville Girl)
Yes?
"Cause when you take a stand you are libel, to get shot, flip-flop, wish-wash"
Boy, can I relate to this, and there are so many other lines that resonate...
"Our stances are made on pits of quicksand..."
Good stuff as usual :)
When you take a stand you are libel...I have found this out when I was actually interested in the last presidential election. I have had so many rude comments directed in my path, and listen to ignorance fuel conversations of the "I protect my own' etc. that I could puke. It's hard to take a stand especially when all you have is a bitter taste in your mouth thanks to those around you.....
I like taking a stand.
And I like defending it, too.
;)
This attitude is apt for many different moods and possibilities. Ain't no thang, right?
cm...yeah i do...i think i rewrite this one in a different way every 6 months when i start getting cynical and need a good kick in the a$$...you know...
you nailed it.
Good, strong lines. Nicely done.
I'm all for taking a stand and speaking up...cannot help myself.
No secrets with me my friends.
kathe w - yeah, i have a hard time keeping my mouth shut, go figure...lol
...and because the people 'stayed silent', their cities, homes were destroyed daily by payloads from B-17
bombers.
Wonder--is silence really the 'easier, softer way?
OTOH, it takes b*lls to stand up and be counted. E.g., Iran.
Ah, yes and easier can be deadly, too. Nicely posed piece.
Always have been one to sit quietly at first, but then must take a stand.
Hi! Brian...
I like the rapid-speed or "machine-gun fire" Of this poem...and the question you ask and then just as quickly...withdraw your question.
This poem is very well-written...Thanks, for sharing your
Magpie Tales.
DeeDee ;-D
like they say...silence is golden.
I play that game too these days. With my mother :)
Happy Valentin's Day Brian. To you & your beautiful family!
Ah yes, sometimes it is easier to remove one self from the reality than speaking up about it.
Maybe it is because everything is so faced paced these days, one can not catch up...
At times I just want to run away from it all, somewhere quiet and tranquil where times stand still...
Lovely writing as always my dear friend,
xoxo
We pick the one we wanted but tomorrow it will be different, so true
I spent many years keeping my mouth shut about many things but now I'm making up for lost time. At least people know where they stand with me.
I say at least I was smart enough to stay the hell off of Craigs list shirtless! ha ha
Ya rarely get wounded by actions you don't commit but then you rarely get anything done either. Foment the revolt from the laz-e-boy!
lots to think about here!
Silence has gotten us where we are today...better?? I think not!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Yes sometimes it does make more sense to be silence..because words will shatter certainly the supposed calm in the void.
Dear Brian: We plead the fifth because we can! Excellent take on the legal-ease of laziness. Should have called Laz-e-boy; decline-o-man!
'to get shot, flip~flop, wish~
wash, it all comes out in the
laundry except those pesky
stains of indecision to
which we plead the fifth,
it's not my responsibility'
I love that stanza!
I've never been one to keep silent on much of anything, which can get me into trouble, but I'm ok with that!
Great poem!
Great write as usual, Brian! I agree how important it is to stand our ground and speak our minds and to remind ourselves of this fact. I appreciate that you note how taking a particular stance can potentially kill you. I think it's really important to remember that fact as, I believe, speaking freely speaks to a certain amount of privilege in this world. Thanks for making me think!
Stances on pits of quicksand..life itself! Truly an amazing, totally coherent take..wow!!
"pesky
stains of indecision to
which we plead the fifth"...
~ Brilliant! I liked this a lot. Your writing is so darn good!
That's telling 'em Brian. Speak up or forever hold your "pesky stains of indecision"... yeah!
Just look what Egypt did!
I agree with you completely my love. Staying silent is the easy way out so as not to "ruffle any feathers" of those who may not agree. The good news however....it's never to late to start speaking up. A lesson I'm learning daily. ;)
Quicksand lurk in unexpected places...
I definitely suffer from those stains of indecision, Brian.
"senses over salted,"
"our stances are made on
pits of quicksand, spread
thin,"
i like the way you traveled from there to here...
That last line is the kicker. Gets right to the point.
Speaking up for myself does not come naturally to me. I have been silent for more than half of my life. No more. What a wonderful reminder today to take a stand, even if it might be wrong.
♥namaste♥
If we don't take a stand, the world, life, will take a stand for us and we may not like the consequences. Always, I am amazed at the thought provoking manner in which you write.
This poem does bring to mind the people of Egypt.
oh this is right up my alley.
flavor of the month: oops I just tossed it out in the garbage.
speak the truth is my goal, not indecision.....
good rhythm and cadence here in a wishy-washy-sing-song attitude to match the subject.
happy Tuesday,
Di
We don't get to plead the 5th in Canada. I am getting a new Laz-y-boy sofa this weekend though. Click click click.
I stay silent most of the time...but not on the issues that are important to me. You have to choose your battles.
This one hit home on so many levels.
"cause when you take
a stand you are libel"...ouch
"it all comes out in the
laundry except those pesky
stains of indecision"...double ouch
"what do you stand for as
you sit there in the comfy
chair, click, click, clicking
the time away?"...okay, you killed me. I'm always worrying that I'm not really "living" my life.
But wait, there is hope...there is a place I always take a stand...it's Pralines and Cream or nothing for me. :)
"cause when you take
a stand you are libel,
to get shot"
Love that play on words, Brian!
A lot of truth here, Brian. So easy to be lazy...
beautiful poem brian. so many thinks to mull over- taking stands is always best.
The last question you pose is so thought provoking! I have now read your Magpie four times. I'll be back.
shoutand you will be heard, great post mate. loud enough
Life is all about your word and honouring it.
I'm the worlds worst for having big opinions & then not really doing anything about them. Sigh.
Deep and thought-provoking words.
"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." ~ Alex Hamilton, British journalist (1978)
i agree with the comment about the people in Egypt, look what fighting for what they belive in got them....
i hold tight in my heart the true things i beleive in. this is a good one...very throught provoking
So many choices in this spoiled life. I for one like when you speak out.
'our stances are made on pits of quicksand' - wonderful image! Hot air and ill-considered opinions lead to 'it all comes out in the laundry'. Oh, so many well-chosen words - well done :-)
too many flavours, so how to choose.
You're right. So many flavors. Sometimes it's hard to choose (and it's usually the hardest to choose the right thing).
This has such a great rhythm. If I wasn't at work, I'd read it outloud!
I hope all is well,
Jen
this made me think of many of my heroes who spoke up because they believed it's good and right - no matter if it was uncomfortable...and at the same time...well i way too often stay quiet..
It's very tempting to say nothing...but isn't it just delaying the consequences and leaving it for someone else to pick up the pieces?
I very much like the blah blah heart post, too. Hope you had a good V day.
"pesky stains of indecision"...wow what a great turn of phrase Brian!
"mmm mmm - mmm mmm mmm"
And yet, what has been said cannot be unsaid. It's a balancing act.
And therein lies the apathy.
So much here Brian...yes silence can be deadly but so can speaking without thinking...we can speak out on things we don't really know about but it's the hot topic of the day...we can speak out when we really don't have a clue...I am learning to think more before I speak...to speak when I know I need to take a stand...oh the regret of unspoken words or taking a stand on something that I ended up knowing nothing about. Great post Brian. :)
Brian,
It's taken me many years to find the value in the quote:
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln
Still I find toe jam tart from time to time.
rel
Wow, very thought provoking. My dirty laundry is full of 'those stains of indecision.' What a great phrase!
"...pesky stains of indecision to which we plead the fifth..."
I confess: Too guilty of this one! Excellent write.
Rick
I believe... "indecisions" in their own way are just more silent and passive ways of taking a stand...but taking a stand nonetheless.
"evil flourishes when good men do nothing"
Thought provoking write! Loved it!
As I sit in my La-Z-Boy, click clicking on the keys, I think perhaps I need to make some decisions about which way to go...
Cool! There was a country song that that said "you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything".
you speaketh my life of indecision. Quicksand; perfect metaphor.
Reminds me of Cinderella in "Into the Woods."
"And you've made your decision,
which is not to decide..."
It's better to choose something than nothing!
I love the line "silence is deadly." It's a theme in my Magpie too (the 2nd one.)
A great read, a great write!
Salt your silence to give them flavor. Nice Magpie.
Sitting tight such in the comfort of our living room is an easy way to put things off... but it doesn't help much.. (sigh)
A nice powerful take on the Magpie, Brian!
Brian your words speak out....a powerful piece indeed! :-)
Everyone has a tipping point.
Poetry24…where news is the Muse
Oh, yes... there is no STUMBLING onto your blog. I am enjoying being in my chair clicking and clicking on your blog. This is the place from which I do my speaking out--not just the blog, however. Sometimes the silence is deadly fear and I cannot judge the silence of self-preservation. Easier isn't always better, but sometimes safety is necessary. One can choose the timing of speaking out. NOt that you have said otherwise.
SOmeone in here said "as if you could word anything awkwardly?" The more I'm reading the more I agree. I am stopping with this one for now, though. A WONDERFULLY powerful piece.
One of my new faves. This could explain me so well.
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