Showing posts with label responsibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label responsibility. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

It's Up to Us

it's up to us,
people who in this age
are seen as "white,"
although in truth
we're all just a mix like everyone
of human genetic soup; 

it's up to us
to erode White Supremacy,
the great World Lie,
the longest American 
evil, until it 
breaks, dissolves
into dust
and final impotence. 

it's up to us, 
you know. why?
because we have the influence,
each
in our own small spheres;
because we can,
we must. 

oh, yes, I know,
most of us must serve
so many duties.
most of us are weary.
that's all right. 

don't let 
the distractions,
excuses, 
rationalizations,
confuse you til you
do nothing. 

just
do what you can
to advance the erosion.
use your influence
if you can,
when you can,
how you can.
and you can. 
it's up to us, you know. 

Monday, October 5, 2020

Duty

After a life, or most of one,
of doing his duty, meeting
his responsibilities and obeying
their orders, he found he couldn't

relax as others did. He made
too much even of small tasks,
compelled himself to follow
through, stay strong, be there.

Voices of authorities past
gabbed in his head. He vowed
that one day he would not do
what he was supposed to do. 

But would he follow through?


hans ostrom 2020

Monday, February 16, 2015

"Lieutenant"

Lieutenant, lieu
tenant, boss and not-
boss, muddle-management,
point of view, of order;

quasi-commander,
ranked demander,
charged like a battery,
in charge of a corner

in the structure:
what should I do?
asks the lieu;
but only later asks

how did I get me-self
into this broken fix
of too much and not enough
responsibility?




hans ostrom 2015