Pity and Guilt

 
We don’t want your pity
We don’t want your guilt
Giving it to us like
We don’t already
Have enough to carry
 
Yes this world
Has wronged us
Yes it still does
 
But what we
Need from you is
Action
Support
Systemic change
People who actually
Do what we ask
 
Because that is
The only way
Anything will change
 
Instead people
Tell themselves
Liking posts is enough
Looking like they care
To the world
Is enough
 
It is not enough
 
We are desperate
Now
We are struggling
Now
We need help
Now
 
Those donations
To organizations
That say they
Represent us
While working
To end and abuse us
Or using it to
Pad their wallets
Do nothing
But hurt us and
Help people mentally
Absolve themselves from
Responsibility
 
If you can
Please
Give to those
Whose labor you
Benefit from
Because to say
This work
Is difficult
Is an understatement
And we do it for you
But still we
Need to eat
We are human
Like you
 
If you have
Connections
Please
Share our work
 
A like does not
Pay the bills and
Many of us
Are disabled
 
Support those who
Give their time
Knowledge
Effort
Energy
Love
Light
And pour it into
Educating you
Helping you
 
Give the amount
That education is
Worth to you
So you can
Get more
 
If you don’t
Our voices will
Go quiet
One by one

©2022 April Marie Mai

Wizard Painting
“Wizard” by April Marie Mai
Acrylic on Canvas, 30″ x 40″ x 1.5″
A horizontal rectangle impasto thick paint acrylic abstract painting with seafoam, fuchsia, teal, purple, pink, yellow, pearlescent, metallic silver and white combining in an expressive palette knife movement style. There is a thin arc of yellow toward the left center of the painting, with colors swirling everywhere like magic. Each swipe of the palette knife is different and contains multiple colors.
Shop...