I have seen certain things
and the things that I have witnessed
.... I cannot repeat in this space

I have seen , with my eyes closed
what it feels like to have dignity stripped
until it remains barely hanging like rags
torn... just pieces... like strips of cloth torn asunder
badly worn.... but still hanging onto flesh

like a little bit of meat left on the bones after the ravens have pecked at it
and if the bones belonged to a person that was still alive
and the person wishes to live
to forge that dignity within

is akin to resurrecting oneself from a slew of buzzards
building oneself within, invisibly silently
while the saprophytes mercilessly continue to peck again and again
and again

sometimes, i feel
that is what it is like for some
to get up every day
brush their teeth, comb their hair

then ... to face the world
with all its prejudices and injustices
sometimes...
i think...
" it must take everything"

for that person to do that
I have seen certain things
things i cannot repeat

and if i told you who my heroes were
you probably would not believe me
it sickens me that some must live that way

but it is true
those are my heroes
the ones who make it out the door

to live another day
instead of gingerly laying a noose about their neck
so easy it would be to do
i've seen what life can do to some

the ones that nobody realizes
are trying
really trying

putting all their focus on
keeping the buzzards out
closing their eyes
facing the sun

over and over again
while the dull hammer of hatred
continues on
ceaselessly

sure it is a war out there
but the real one lie inside
sometimes its just a simple war

like a bit of bread ( flaxseed of course)
asking for a simple thing
like ones daily bread and water
ones dignity

ones dignity
to some
may mean more than bread or water
ones dignity
may be the only thing worth fighting for

in the end

if one has to fight for dignity
it may be the last frontier

to look within
deep within
go where no one else can be
can touch

cuz that is the place
that one must be

to claim anything for oneself

know that place
know that to treat oneself with dignity
is the ultimate gift one can give not only to oneself
but to others as well

a dignified person is the most beautiful being to behold

this much i believe

i see souls fighting for dignity
like a person drowning in a tormented sea of rage
bobbing in between the lackluster but crushing waves

how dulling it must be to fight
in such an undignified manner
but that is what a dignified person does

dignified people feel that such humiliations
come with the territory
for it is indeed humiliating
to fight for something that ought to just be a given

like air
like water

what are the statistics?
how many people in the world have no access to clean water?

what are the statistics?
how many people fight every day of their lives to be treated with dignity?
which is more cruel?

water
dignity
air

dignity
air
water


dignity is a precious resource
invaluable
especially to the one who has earned it
for oneself

invaluable
especially to the one who must rebuild it for oneself
not just daily

but with every new situation that arises
throughout the 24 hour day

dignity cannot be given by others
and if it surely cannot
it must be created within

the last frontier
the last
and the most wildest
and the most

B
R
E
A
T
H
T
A
K
I
N
G

it takes imagination
it takes depth

sometimes
it takes

E
V
E
R
Y
T
H
I
N
G

what is dignity?
the reassurance that one's life is worth living
that it has utmost value
despite what the world says

you know better
believe this

u know better
believe this
u know better

L
I
V
E


la veronique dignitique

I LOVE LA-V!

That's why I dont have or watch tv, it strips dignity like those vulchars,TV is a big VULCHAR! And I alomst never listen to the radio for the same reason.

Dignity and inegrity are partners. I stive for both.

great post La-veraw

elnatural

one day we will live in a world
where dignity like air
is simply a given

but until that day comes
i'm looking within
within
within

nothing can be expected from this world that is akin to peace
but within
anything is possible
even the impossible
this much i do believe


looking within
one can find freedom
where there was non to be had outside of oneself

sure
its a lonely fight sometimes
sure , it can be crippling and rage filled
but what are the other alternatives?

in the end
everyone must fight for one's dignity

treating others with great dignity
is an act of self love

treating oneself with great dignity
is a marvel to behold
for others

its an inside job, i say
and it is never ending

its the harshest adventure
but its very rewarding

it is extremely spiritual
its either this

or the noose
and i do know a man who hung himself
because the sounds of the buzzards were getting too loud for him

i wrote the above for this man
who knew that life wasn't worth living without dignity

i'm sorry that he couldn't find it within
sometimes the fight is too heinous to conceive

i hope he is covered in love
slathered in mercy
rested in peace

Amen!