I am not ashamed of being
Christian
I am not ashamed of being
White
I am not ashamed of being
American
I am not ashamed of being
Female
I am not ashamed of being
Southern
I am not ashamed of being
Human
Stop asking me to be ashamed
E.A. Fussell
06.10.2020
Summer hiking starts soon
It’s one of my favorite things to do
I am aware of nature’s dangers
Losing my footing
Falling down hills
Encountering wild creatures
In their natural habitat
As I innocently invade it
Yes, venomous snakes are there
Somewhere
I try not to think about them
Until some well meaning soul
Reminds me to beware
And suddenly I see them
Everywhere
Even when
They aren’t even there
E.A. Fussell
6.10.2020
I am so tired of being told
What to think
What to say
What to do
How to feel
How to look
By people who don’t have
One iota of a clue
E.A. Fussell
06.09.2020
Death
Why should one persons life
Be considered
More valuable than another
Why should one persons death
Be considered more atrocious
Than another
Life is intrinsically valuable
Regardless of what an individual
Chooses to do with it
Regardless of the circumstances
An individual is born into
Death is atrocious
Regardless of it’s circumstances
Or cause
Death is a wicked thief
Always stealing something
From someone
Be it the dead
Or those left alive
Who have to deal with
The death of the dead
Time slips away as
Emotions spin out of control
For what
All of the screaming
All of the crying
All of the love
All of the hate
Will not bring one soul back to life
Will not right the wrong
Why do we allow death to matter
So much
Especially if we are strangers
To the dead
Death is inevitable, unavoidable
Life is avoided
If we are preoccupied
With death
Let the dead bury the dead
Let the living make a better life
E.A. Fussell
06.09.2020
The media record plays
Over and over
Round and round
Telling us what to think
Telling us what to scream
Ignorant souls vying for
The next big story
Painting illusions
To grab our attention
Sensationalizing the smallest things
Until they no longer satisfy
Our need to hear dirt
To roll around in it
Like swine in a trough
Hungry for the next batch of slop
The media pours it on
Graduating to bigger things
Manufactured mobs
Stirred by the spinning media record
Playing never ending slurs
Against humanity
And still we eagerly listen
As their filth tickles our ears
E.A. Fussell
06.08.2020
There are good people
There are bad people
In all races
Do not judge me
By what others have done
Good
Or
Bad
Consider your personal experience
With me
Maybe it was good
Maybe it was bad
Speak that truth
Good
Or
Bad
If you don’t have
A personal experience with me
Shut up
E.A. Fussell
06.08.2020
To ask any person
To apologize
For their race
Is unacceptable
I do not apologize for being white
I do not ask you to apologize
For whatever race you are
God created both of us
He decided what race we would be
I do not question His authority
E.A. Fussell
06.08.2020
The post
Acting as a foundation for the fence
Bringing boundary lines into view
Marking claims of ownership
Keeping some things trapped inside
Keeping other things out
Possession defined
Protection alluded to
Fences make some folks feel secure
They are always checking on
And replacing posts
That have lost their strength
I think most of us
Do the same thing with fences
In our minds and
Around our hearts
Foundation posts of
Feelings left over
From bad experiences
Or a bad belief system
Limit us
Fence us in
Or others out
We know the ruined posts
Should be replaced with new ones
Better ones
But it’s easier to hold onto
The old ones
Familiar
Offering a false sense of security
Less painful and time consuming
Than pulling down old fences
And installing new ideas
E.A. Fussell
06.07.2020
An old truck radio plays
Tucked back in the woods
Past the end of a dirt road
Where crystal clear
Creek water flows
Inviting us to jump in
We throw off our clothes
Nothin’ like a swim
In the moonlight glow
Summer heat and old tune beats
Got us feeling young again
You take my hand
Spin me around
Treading water
We’re laughing and splashing
Trying not to drown
As we do a little old fashioned
Creek water dancin’
E.A. Fussell
06.03.2020
Do not loose hope
Because of the darkness
In this world
There is a light in you
That can outshine any darkness
Hold onto your light
Protect it
Renew your mind
Refresh your soul
Whatever it takes
Keep your lamp filled with oil
Do not listen
To the lies being told
The master deceiver
Ancient
From time of old
Moving the chess pieces
Herding the sheep
Trying to drown out reason
With emotion
Fear, anger, fear
Waves of manipulation rolling in
Ignore their pull
Hold onto what you know
Even when it takes a toll
Keep your light shining
As the waves of darkness roll
E.A. Fussell
06.01.2020
E. A. Fussell 