In celebration of National Poetry Month 2014, I present my new poem: a poetic manifesto for a new world.
By the way, I also think that we need to queer or gayify National Poetry Month!
"I Want Poetry to Matter: A Manifesto"
I want Poetry to matter
I want it to do what no one else, nothing else can do
I want Poetry to matter
Do you?
I want Poetry to end all wars
stop the genocides
cure all diseases
feed the starving
shelter the homeless
protect the helpless
stop the injustices
save the planet
save the animals
save our souls
save us
I want Poetry to mean something
I want Poetry to do something
I want Poetry to be the peaceful warrior
I want Poetry to be the violent pacifist
I want Poetry to matter
I want it to imprison the oppressor
and free the oppressed
I want it to blame the victimizer
and defend the victim
I want it to banish the marginalizer
and welcome the marginalized
I want it to the resist the powerful
and empower the powerless
I want it to steal from the greedy
and give to the needy
I want Poetry to do what no other literature can do
what no other art can do
what no institution can do
I want Poetry to matter
I want it be tangible
I want it to be seen
heard
touched
tasted
smelled
I want Poetry to have a purpose
It must have a purpose
I want Poetry to matter
I want it to reveal the real truth
I want it to change the world
And although none of this will ever be reality
Ideally, I want Poetry to matter
So I hope and I hope and I hope
because hope is all I have
Are you hopeful?
I want Poetry to matter
Do you?
Do you want Poetry to matter?
Do you?