SCOTT DONNELLY
 I’m Scott Donnelly, and I’ve been writing poetry since the age of eleven. My poetry is for everyone, not a select group of people. If you breathe, then my poetry’s for you. I’m an open-minded person who believes in equality and justice for all, with no exceptions. The potential of words, especially the spoken word, is extremely powerful and can be a major agent of social and political change. Poetry used to be a powerful force in this country. I believe it’s time for it to come back with a vengeance, in order to help bring about much-needed change and reform in government, society, etc.
My heroes and mentors include the late, great Malcolm X, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Fred Hampton, Saul Williams, Howard Zinn, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost and Dr. Martin Luther King.
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CAN YOU HELP POETRY?
They say poetry is dead!
…Untrue…
Poetry desperately needs you to stop feeding that present, ignorant view
Poetry needs you the people…more than ever before to open your ears and explore your hearts, souls and mind
Poetry needs to find an audience beyond the lecture hall, class room, English or creative writing department
Poetry use to move people and in turn people moved poetry along
It was a symbiotic relationship… a partnership
But our ship has become lost at sea…sailing aimlessly into the horizon of obscurity
No longer is poetry in motion…but poetry has been put in park
Moving nowhere but more importantly…moving no one
It’s been on life support supported by academics
And a good number of poets have become so arrogant that they think nothing of the audience when they create
So naturally as time has progressed… poetry’s progress in this confined existence has regressed
People are trying to formulize and standardize…
…Can you believe this…?
Creativity…the life’s blood of poetry
I don’t know about you but for me…poetry is something that crosses all boundaries and boarders, overcomes all obstacles, side steps all pitfalls and has the balls to say ANYTHING
As someone once said, “Poetry is the art of using words charged with their utmost meaning.”
See the power of language is very real
And those who lose the ability to appreciate and understand the power of language
Will become slaves to those who retain that ability…so that ability… retain it
And if you think I could be talking about you then your mind frame…reframe it
Poetry in any form…is for everyone…
Have you experienced pain or hurt?
Poetry is for you
Have you ever felt true loves passion?
Poetry is for you…and if you haven’t…
Poetry can help provide you with a sneak preview
Honestly, I never knew any of this till I hit rock bottom
So poetry…when they say you’re dead or dying…I know…I know they’re lying because when I was lying at the bottom of rock bottom… on the inside crying…you where the only thing that could reach me
Because words are so powerful
That’s why I laugh when I hear people clown poetry as…nothing but words
I laugh and say, “Really, on your wedding day when you said, “I do”…those words didn’t mean anything to you?”
Or
When your child is about to leave and says, “Goodbye, I love you”…that doesn’t mean anything to you?
I hope that’s not true
So next time someone tells you that words mean nothing…laugh as I do
Honkey, cracker, nigger, chink, spic, you mean those words don’t mean anything?
Those words of hate if used in the wrong connotation can create oceans filled with foul, negative emotions
I love you, I need you, I missed you…you’re so sweet
Those words can make you so happy you feel as if your feet… may never again touch the ground
That’s the profound impact words can have
Or lack there of
What some people wouldn’t do in this callous cold world to hear the warm, soft words; “I love you” pierce the air
It’s amazing what can happen when you open up and share… yourself and feelings
Never forget that because essentially…
That’s what poetry is
All the little and big things that we encounter and share in our day to day living… all the things that make us laugh, cry, feel, and think
So Remember
If you live poetry… then poetry will always live…
Because when it comes right down to it
No matter what is done and no matter what nonsense may be said…if you live poetry…
Then Poetry can never be dead…
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EVOLUTION OF OUR AMERICAN REVOLUTION
We the people have been snoozing while freedom’s been losing ground in this… home land of the free
A land built by immigrants and slaves from every sea all of whom did not receive freedom and equality
See it’s always been necessary to write, fight, protest, and die in order to be truly free
Because freedom is not free
I agree with Langston Hughes, who said,
“Let America be America again
Let it be the dream it used to be.”
And the only way to get the Dream back is to think revolutionary
Can you hear the Revolutionary drum once again begin drumming?
The next Evolution of the American Revolution is coming with a mission…to bring the principles and ideals embodied in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights to fruition
Beware…all out ideological warfare will tear at the poisonous strings that run through the fabric of our society
Beware…when liberties and freedoms begin shrinking revolution must be part of your thinking
I ask, “How much more can we take”
I ask…how absurd a law do they have to make and pass before you get off your ass and express interest?
Tell me…what will it take?
Or is all your Patriotic talk of Freedom and Liberty a fake;
Or maybe it’s all an illusion like our Bill of Rights
Because seeing them translated into reality can cause confusion
If not I direct you to periods of our history we don’t like to teach because it shows we don’t always practice what we preach
Why we’re still trying to reach what our most sacred documents teach: Freedom, Liberty and equality for all
Just ask Native and African Americans, women and the latest group-homosexuals
Funny how someone’s view of you can determine how the Bill of Rights will be applied
Rights that are granted to all should never be denied to anyone because of race, color, creed, religion or sexual orientation
Our sacred documents should be supplied each year in school while teachers provide a real look at our nation’s historical past…
Check the facts and watch how fast the foundation of his story begins to crack, crumble and fall
How can I have the gall to say what I say and stand here in front of you all…because of my god given unalienable rights reiterated in the Bill of Rights to do so
Don’t forget…our most sacred documents state our rights - they don’t guarantee anything
We the people through our involvement and action guarantee our freedom and liberties
Don’t look to the Supreme Court to guarantee these or to provide a fair, hand…the same enlightened body that declared an African American 3/5 of a man…Huggggh!
What an ignorant and dangerous mentality
And people dare call me a crazy fanatic with no grasp of reality
So I hope for the best while preparing for the worst
That’s why I pack my second amendment to guarantee my first
I’m prepared to persevere and secure my liberties, my rights as Malcolm X said
By any means necessary
Because I never read a disclaimer on the Bill of Rights that said, Depending on race, color, creed, religion and sexual orientation individual results may vary
So save you patriotic piety and stop eyeing me as some crazy fanatic
See the word revolution tends to be problematic
So to relieve static created by those who are blind to history…I remind them; before they try to bury me
That our founding fathers, the men we praise; each was a Revolutionary
Need I say anymore?
Our Founding Fathers conceived, planned, implemented and executed the Revolutionary War
Now…can you here the revolutionary drum drumming
It’s drumming because the people have been forgotten, our senate is corrupt and rotten that’s why it’s coming
So get ready
The next evolution of the American Revolution is coming to a mind frame near you…
Be true to the concepts and ideals in our sacred documents that made this nation so revolutionary and extraordinarily great
Wake up…it’s not too late to change our fate and save the American Dream
As Langston Hughes said, words which I hold sacred to me
“O, let America be America again
The land that never has been yet…And yet must be--the land where every man is free”
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