pro-me

i’m tired of walking the streets

preaching what i’m against and

hating you.

 

so here’s what i’m FOR.

 

i’m pro-love and

                         pro-possibility.

 

i’m pro-women loving women

emancipation, imagination and

DREAMS.

 

i’m pro-passion, compassion

and practice meeting theory to

reveal the expansive realm

of opportunity.

 

i’m pro-choice.

 

and i don’t mean just over the

fetus in my womb,

but over my life, the world, our oceans,

gardens, rivers,

families, agricultural practices,

and

autonomy.

 

i’m pro-people

black, white, red, yellow, and green.

pro-woman, and man

and everyone

in between.

 

because we’re all in-betweens

because nothing separates me and that

man on the street

except the socialized teachings that have taught him that he can

rape and dominate me.

 

because he has a penis. and i don’t.

 

i’m pro-poetry, creativity,

expression,

dance,

sweat

revolution

laughter and sensuality.

 

i’m pro-peace.  no, not just flower child, barefeet optimism

(although that’s alright, too)

but hard work, reconciliation,

mediation and listening to

my aches

your pains

as broken people

in a wounded world.

 

i’m pro-healing, pro-teaching,

pro-hope and love-making.

i’m pro-dignity, personality,

and freedom for everyone of us to see

the scope of our

DIVINITY.

 

i’m pro-reading books, giving looks, and

shouting at the top of my lungs

I AM WOMAN.  I AM FREE.

I am past, present, and in the

queerness of my identity

i am

unity.

 

so stop fucking me and raping

her

 

because i’m pro-life

with a capital L

and your laws do not determine

my life or my value in the world.

 

i’m pro-healing, and kneeling

and digging in dirt.

 

i’m pro-mother, pro-father, pro-sister

brother/aunt/uncle/cousin and friend.

 

i’m from no where and everywhere and therefore,

 

i’m pro-wandering, discovering, challenging and

sometimes, sometimes,

FUCKING UP,

because i’m pro-CHANGE,

and NOT BEING THE SAME

as the hatred and war that drives our economy and

bombs women and  children overseas.

 

because women and children are the victims of war

as big men with guns storm through their doors,

and rape our daughters and slaughter our sons

as they sling machine guns over their arms

and force the poorest to take up weapons because they have been told that they have to

kill someone else in order to become a man

and earn their degree.

because they are lower-class, different, diseased

definitely not deserving of the same rights as you or as me. 

 

i’m pro- food, education, health-care

and shelter for all. 

and i’m pro-raising our taxes for social welfare.

because we all need help.  we are not alone

because systems are systematic and

patriarchy, racism, classism, sexism, agism, and heterosexism (to just name a few)

privilege some over others

and NO ONE

is a self-made man.

 

i’m pro-community,

pro-playgrounds and schools,

pro-libraries, pro-protest, pro-public space

pro-art,

graffiti/pro-song/hip hop and being smart.

 

pro-hugs, and kisses-

but only with permission

because your illegal sexuality

has no place or claim on my

physical, mental or emotional body.

 

i’m pro-eating right and exercise.

pro-relaxation and compromise.

pro-ganja, pro-wisdom, pro-meditation,

pro-evolution.

 

i’m pro-spirituality and taking turns

because sharing is caring

and there’s more than enough to go around. 

 

i’m pro-waking up

and looking around

and focusing on the oneness of our shared humanity.

 

i’m pro-loving myself

and being me

and allowing others to live and to breath.

 

i’m pro-slowing down

and shutting up

because sometimes its about hearing the stories of others and not just yourself, because we are not the gate-keepers of knowledge

and authority.

 

i’m pro-honesty

pro-solidarity

pro-not being silent and

beginning to grieve

for all the people we’ve killed

and deaths we’ve allowed

and crimes against the poor

done by the very same dictators that govern our laws

and make our policies

and increase our dependence on

the raping of land and stealing of resources from everyone overseas.

 

i’m pro-taking naps, and going on walks

pro-climbing mountains

and camping out.

i’m pro-loving each other as much as we love

that new dvd/television/house/shoes and purse.

 

i’m pro-ideological change

that originates inside

our very own minds

because nothing happens in real life

that does not first occur in our brains. 

 

this is what i’m PRO.  this is what i’m FOR.

 

i’m pro-love, pro-you, pro-god, pro-seasons,

pro-organic REVOLUTION

pro-teaching each other to care for the world

pro-positivity

and definitely, absolutely, without a doubt-

I’M PRO-ME.

written spring 2008