Labels will Kill you

Labels will Kill you

I should have figured this out when I was a waitress at sixteen.

Labels will kill you. With each label you allow people to put on you, come expectations.

You no longer are you. You are expected to be what the label commands 24/7 for the rest of your life. Then you must eventually be everything for everybody. I heard a small child call out "Gramma" in a parking lot and six woman turned to see who was calling them.

With each label, Wife, Mother, Gramma, Great Gramma, you have another role to play. People forget your name. People forget you are an individual first. People forget everything but what you should be and do for them.

If you don't believe me, listen to the tone. It sounds like "help me", I need help. The tone most often ends in a question. Men use other things than wife, like dear, love, hon, but it is all the same. "I need something" I usually address my husband by his name. Soon you will forget that you even have a name. Hmmm, let's see, what is my name?

If you don't believe me, start doing this: When someone calls you Mom for instance, say back to them, Yes? Daughter Amy? ( whatever is appropriate) That will remind them of their responsibility to you as in respect and duties. I will guarantee you, they will NOT like it.

OR, start telling people to use your name and not a label. See if you can regain your true identity. Good Luck!

Kesti

April 19, 2007

"IF"

"IF"

If all dreams came true

If all skies were blue

If all love was pure

If all pain had cure

I might endure.

Kes©3-18-2007

"In Death"

"In Death"

Sadness tries to fill the void

That happiness once held

And you must try to roll with it

Until the pain is felled.

For bad days come

And good days leave

Like seasons thru the year

Each with something new to bring

But change we must not fear.

For there's a plan we cannot see

and must have faith to bear

Whatever mortal coil will bring

Whatever pain to share.

And when you peek o'er yonder hill

And see what is in store

I pray I'll see that sparkling smile

Adorn your face once more.

Kesti ©

November 3, 2001

'See Into My Heart'

'See Into My Heart'

For it is the heart

That speaketh to the mind

Before the pencil moves.

Yes ..it is the heart

That yearns and cries

and laughs..and prays.

The heart that feels

The tug

As you tuck your

Baby in at night.

Kesti©

December 1, 1993

'School'

'School'

Here I am again.

Where unsung heroes stray.

Teachers...spinning out

Their lives...their days.

Hoping to siphon knowledge

From their brains to ours

Hoping a few sparks

Will ignite and create

Ideas that may change

The world.

I wonder how they feel

When eyes are dull

And minds seem blank

When bodies slump

And vague mutterings

Slide 'round the room

When they say

'Your assignment for

Tomorrow is'....

Perhaps they must

Stifle the impulse

To race us for the door

When the bell rings...

Kesti©1980

‘A Tree Of Destiny’

‘A Tree Of Destiny’

My name is Oak

And I was born in sunshine

Nestled in my sturdy cup

A cradle of hairy roughness

Just my size.

A squirrel stole me from

Mothers arms

And ran with me up and up

To highest hill and buried me.

It was dark and cold

I yearned for sun and

Mothers arms to protect me.

Time went by and I slept

When I awoke I felt some warmth

I reached and reached and alas

I broke thru to light..

How refreshed I felt..

I reached for the sun and could

Feel myself growing

I was at the top of a hill

And as I grew I could see more and more

Of the landscape 'neath my base.

I felt stronger every day

Rain came and I drank with thirst of Giants.

Time passed and I kept reaching for the sky.

Birds built nests in my arms.

Squirrels ran upon my trunk and chased

Each other just for fun.

My outer coat was rough and tough

I could withstand heat and cold

Nothing could hurt me.

The wind whistled and tried to push me

But to no avail cuz I was strong

I was a giant with sixty seven rings

My leaves were Green then brown

As seasons changed.

I gave birth to thousands

Which fed the squirrels and now

I knew that some of them were buried

And left to grow as I.

It was not a fearful thing

But a miracle .

Then one day I saw them come.

With shining blades advancing

I was not afraid for was I not the

Fortress strong?

I felt the sharp sting cut me like

I was made of gel and soon I fell

I made a noise like thunder

And watched the eggs fall from their nests.

Mother birds frantic...

but None with blades would notice.

They cut off my arms and dragged me

Down the hill with giant noisy things

Of strength unseen by me before.

They drove me to a place where noise

And screams were heard

Soon my coat was stripped away

And I was sliced into many lengths

Once again transported to a place

That smelled so strange.

I was cut and polished smooth

And fitted into what they called

A Table.

Eventually I ended up inside a place

They called a house ..made with my siblings

It was warm and nice but I could only see

The sun thru panes called glass.

Each day I heard and felt the clank of plates

As dinner time arose and people sat around

And ate and laughed and talked.

Dogs ran round my sturdy legs

And ate what children dropped to them

When no one saw.

I hear people admire my beauty at times

And say how strong I am...That is how

I know I am OAK.

A Gramma comes to visit and I named her OAK

Because I see her strength

Children gather round her too.

And dogs zoom between her feet and she just laughs.

I wonder who will come to carry her away

And put her in the ground?

Kesti©

3-19-2002

"Reward of Hate"

"Reward of Hate"

They put a nail into her heart

Where once a flower grew

And killed the bird of joy

Who lived there too.

They stood around

In evil glee

To watch her final breath

Surprised to find instead

Were smothered

Just by their own words

The Cloak of Death.

Kes©2006