(no subject)

I had an entry in my pita about September 11th that I was fairly proud of, but it got chomped by my faulty connection. The moral of the story was, though, that I am "not letting terrorism win" by going on with my life. I am irritated and vaguely disgusted by the mass amounts of commercialism involved, which implies that because I haven't gotten an American flag tattooed on my forehead and haven't sung the national anthem at the top of my lungs or something that I'm "not patriotic."

No one ever reacts to tragedy and trauma the same way. I would just as soon learn from the lessons and rebuild, and not come back and pick at this like an old scab.

To the kind people who replied to me yesterday--I'm absolutely flabbergasted-grateful. It's wonderful to come back and see that someone has taken the time to let me know they've at least read what I've offered. Thank you so much.

And to finish the entry out, an old poem that I once thought about trying to get published. But you know what? If I'm going to put it anywhere, it might as well be here.

"a single drop of blood alone"

i am not made
by a single drop of blood alone:
i cannot be reduced
        to shreds of flesh
        to strings of muscle
        to shards of bone.

i am not made
from a single whispering-low voice:
i have other words
        of laughter bright
        of anger harsh
        of free-willed choice.

i am not made
by a single passing thought
because my will
        is something i choose
        is completely my own
        is for what i have fought

and i am not made
by a single drop of blood alone.