Respect is the Universal Currency
It’s inflated by idiots
and deflated
by reality. The truth is
respect can be taken from you at any moment
It knows no social class.
All a man or woman wants
is respect. In fact, human beings
spend most of their lives
trying to be respectable. They buy luxury cars
and live in big houses. They have tea parties
and go to the Opera. Some of them collect books
and never read a single one. People will envy your wealth, your good looks, your social status, your education, your intelligence,
but never
your wisdom.
Respect, or a lack there-of
is why gangs commit violence
and white-collar workers shoot-up the office.
Respect,
is why teenagers race hot-rods
and lawyers become politicians—it’s not enough, just to do paperwork in private
Power, is respect
and if you have power
people will try to take that from you.
That’s what boxing is about, in its rawest form
to get respect,
and to take it, from somebody else.
A wise man, wants a worthy opponent
He doesn’t want to win, when his enemy is weak.
If children respect their parents, they will live long lives
but many parents aren’t worthy of respect
and their children won’t live very long.
Citizens of the world unite, in disrespect of their planet
polluted
by pop-culture, and deviance
so far away from normal
that “normal”, isn’t normal anymore.
Death, is everywhere. When life is disrespected
millions are murdered.
Doctors go to medical school, to learn how to disrespect life.
Teachers go to college, to learn how to become ignorant.
Men who keep the lights on and the toilets flushing
and the showers running
are the most disrespected in society.
We shower politicians with praise—we give them our attention and respect
even if we hate them. Think about that…
People don’t respect themselves.
If they did,
they would do what is right.
Many of them,
don’t know what that is,
anymore.
They are lost
because they don’t respect anything
They don’t stand for anything
they kneel, for disrespect.
It doesn’t take guts to lie down
Respect is won on battlefields
People die free, because, even a tyrant has to respect their enemy
If they don’t, their power is in jeopardy.
Respect, is what we live for
and die for
To say otherwise, is to reject the reason for respect—
our existence.
The principal who I respected
was a man of honor
Even he, was disrespected, continuously
by parents who didn’t know how to show respect
Consequently, he retired early
and the school got a new principal
who knew no shame.
All of their angry criticisms
fell on his deaf ears.
When good men are not revered
bad men
take their place
to punish the people.
That last stanza is sooo accurate. Love it.
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It came from the heart one morning. I’m glad that you enjoyed it, sbwheeler!!!
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“When good men are not revered
bad men
take their place
to punish the people.” so true
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Yes–that is one of the consequences of not being able to recognize good men. I’m glad that you enjoyed the line, nonsmoking ladybug!
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Hello, your poem struck a chord for me. Respect should always be given to those most deserving of it. Not every form can always be earned; sometimes, it has to be treated as a given, like respect for one’s elders or authority figures. The same is also true for those who do the most work and make the greatest sacrifices for the betterment, even subsistence, of all. I felt that the poem is worthy of sharing on my Blog as it resonates with the general themes of the various subjects covered.
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Hi Duty and Honor, I’m glad that you got something from my poem, and thank you for sharing on your blog! Duty and Honor have become forgotten words.
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Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. Yes, “Duty” and “Honor” are truly forgotten words in today’s political climate. I have taken the responsibility of trying to instill the meaning of those two words through my attentions when dealing with a variety of topics on my Blog, and not all of which I am in agreement with.
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That’s worthwhile!
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Reblogged this on The Fourth Estate.
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Thanks for the Reblog on the Fourth Estate!!!
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