Pilli Final Project

I wrote this poem in response to a culturally insensitive moment with one of my best friends. So often I find that people feel offended when you point out that they offended someone. In other words people don't take the time to understand someone else's emotions or reactions and instead become aggressive. When talking to David my roommate from South Dakota slang I use instead of cool or dope is sav. Like instead of that so cool I would say thats sav. Not realizing the different between the cultural context I said this to David and noticed that he was slightly surprised by me calling him that.I wrote this poem as a response and apology. 

Ive always been careful with my words

And today every curved sound that escapes these unchapped lips was given a burst of meaning

I was told

I have the power to define the words I speak

but after so many slipped wispers

Uttered mistakes

Unthunk murmurs

And yelled blasphemy

I realized

I take for granted the power of my lungs

I take for granted the presence of my voice

I take for granted  how easily I speak

Ands because of this im not as careful as I think

So when a best friend explained to me he was a hunter

I responded with

“Thats sav as fuck bro”

I was met with a pause

A quick mistep or an unchecked mouth vomit of words

the lines is far finer than i thought

Because

it means so much more when Your people have been called not just sav but full blrown savages

When the people who called you savages still may not say that word but treat you as if you were one

When I a close friend of yours started to sound like a reminder of those people

(Quietly) you are not a savage

Let me say it again

You, are, not, a, savage

The thiefs, the murders, the culture vultures, the hate breeders, the bleach skinned colonizers, the hate breeders, the school shooters, the hate breeders

Have always been the savages