SPRAYING AT UC DAVIS

by Francisco X. Alarcón

people use sprays

to get rid of pests

cockroaches running

with the kitchen light

insects eating up

flowers in the garden—

could somebody tell

our university police

students in the sit-in

on the Quad sidewalk

engaged in peaceful protest

and civil disobedience

are not bugs nor vermin

but real human beings—

thank you — now, who is

cleaning this big media mess?

all those responsible could

help by stepping down—

please pass on the mops

red pepper spray stains

on the cement and minds

are so hard to wash off!—

© Francisco X. Alarcón

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poets-Responding-to-SB-1070/117494558268757#!/notes/poets-responding-to-sb-1070/spraying-at-uc-davis-poem-by-francisco-x-alarc%C3%B3n/279874095382801

Reading this poignant poem and some of the responses, stirred up so much within me, I am sharing it here:

To poison the bug – who came to the surface to clean up the overuse of pesticides – is to poison our mother, and ourselves.

As we, the people, why are we here?

What purpose do we each serve?

Are we here to be powerless subordinates and to seek out leaders who are going to fix our problems (as if they could)?

Or are we here to reclaim our own power, realize that we have the power and the capacity to take care of our own, and each other?

I represent the 100%.

I am the bug, diligent servant of the mother, bringing to the surface that which needs to be resolved.

I am the protester who can clearly see the powerlessness in the so called power play in duality – us against them – consciousness. Enough of that already!

I am the cop who had notions of a noble profession and then received training that not necessarily serves all, but in the end still has a choice to serve the best interest of all concerned.

I am the president, who has ideals to want to live up to, but who is overworked and overburdened by too many demands to answer to, and who has found that in a position of perceived power, if I try and have power over others I attract people around me who drain it out of me just as fast if not faster.

I am the mother whose love runs deep, so deep I can love the darkness and the light I see reflected in everyone as my own, and integrate the two in harmony with each other.

I can do this by practicing kindness, compassion and forgiveness fearlessly, while fiercely guarding the interests of the whole.

I love to see all my children thrive.

I can see all these problems that are in the way and I am tickled to rise to the occasion to resolve within myself how to deal with it.

I cannot do this alone.

I need you, and you me. Together we are one.