I Am Every Woman and Man – A Living Manifesto

Manifesto – a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer 

I am

Every woman and man

Wronged over my opinion

By those who seek my silence

Bitterness

Words supplanted

Of which I’ve never spoken

And still I’m given attribution

Interpretations

Slanderous nevertheless

Biased, agenda-driven attempts

Condemnation through appropriation

Indoctrinated

The yoke hanging heavy

Manifesto badges signaling complicity

Instruments of masters who remain nameless

Shouting

Volumetrically assaulting

Demanding linearity in verbalization

Forcefully demanding either with or against me

And yet

I choose to continue

My refusal to capitulate or abdicate

The freedom to speak that which must be spoken

Fearful

At the willingness of the masses

Coming forward to surrender their words

Unaware that the exchange provides little safety

Further Reading

Beautiful Broken Woman 

Overnight Girl

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R J Schwartz

I write about everything and sometimes nothing at all.I'm fascinated by old things, rusty things, abandoned places, or anywhere that a secret might be unearthed.I'm passionate about history and many of my pieces are anchored in one concept of time or another.I've always been a writer, dating back to my youth, but the last decade has been a time of growth for me.I'm continually pushing the limitations of vocabulary, syntax, and descriptive phrasing.

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