by William Dotani
Member since:
October 27, 2006

Within A Looking Glass Reflection

February 18, 2012 05:07 AM UTC
views: 0 | 9 people recommend this | comments: 37

Every sense must be experienced to be whole
Containing all the fables and half truths we grow
Individual molded by environment
Temples of youth where survival touching the truth
Employ the word and like Kanji broad meaning
Sequence facts in not hiding or masquerading

Being vigilant to scars of experiences
Breaking down the cycle of pragmatic setting
Is this in the Constitution that all have sinned
Why childhood squalor happens in the USA
Endemic to both cultures that have stagnated
This crime screaming out the human experience

There is below austerity being lived daily
In the greatest nation, this cries shameful debate
Need is not a political statement that rhymes
Profits bottom line, ignorance of consequence
You wanna believe, ha ha, all control deceit
But disbelief at this happening so rampant

Watching the hues of violence on daily news
Always selects have not’s society abused
Innocence often accidental violence
Promising future, chance, then never to nurture
And shall responsibility have a limit
As painless outside giving explanation hints

What now Cinderella that no Prince can be found
The greedy bastards love money and sobbing sounds
An aphrodisiac bringing our nation down
The people not represented with honesty
Banking decisions undercutting Democracy
A young urban male needs answers now not later

However one must get beyond missed history
Community responsibility
You buy a daily ticket by your reaction
 Like electing promises with no compassion
But only labels for whomever disagrees
Yet man and shadow, neither side can we believe

Fear gripping the only avenue that’s in play
A sense, hope has taken a vacation advanced
Not getting cute in the reality of street
Sadly this becoming the soul of our nation

A child should not be in politician’s toolbox
Heartless economy is all he seems to preach
Where is the spirit of equality, so grand
Lending a hand to pull up all Americans
Ring that cracked liberty bell and let us feel care
For our neighbor, for a stranger, for love aware  
    

Comments: 37

Bernard C. Feb 18, 2012, 6:08am UTC
A cacophony of ideas speading out in all directions - leads to some thoughtful stuff - the last verse standing upon first reading

Thanks for sharing and submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
William Dotani Feb 19, 2012, 2:31am UTC
Seeing the continual deterioration of life for those in poverty in the Detroit area bothers me. The environment so bad and often dangerous that the feeling of hope is gone and this breeds violence. Environment molds the child.
Thank you.
Ann Marcaida Feb 19, 2012, 3:47pm UTC
I love the way your arguments are phrased using the parentheses of a child's experience. This makes them so much more compelling.

Now featured at The Surreal Circus.
William Dotani Feb 20, 2012, 2:45am UTC
That is the arrow of my focus.
Thank you.
JOHN BECK Feb 18, 2012, 6:54am UTC
Equality of opportunity has suffered and must be restored.
William Dotani Feb 19, 2012, 2:31am UTC
Seeing the continual deterioration of life for those in poverty in the Detroit area bothers me. The environment so bad and often dangerous that the feeling of hope is gone and this breeds violence. Environment molds the child.
Thank you.
Marianne M. Feb 18, 2012, 10:56am UTC
Great line: "A child should not be in politician’s toolbox." Well done, Bill!
William Dotani Feb 19, 2012, 2:32am UTC
Seeing the continual deterioration of life for those in poverty in the Detroit area bothers me. The environment so bad and often dangerous that the feeling of hope is gone and this breeds violence. Environment molds the child.
Thank you.
P.S. That line the truth.
Patricia J. Feb 18, 2012, 1:32pm UTC
I say throw out all politicians and start with real people. You've said it well, Bill. We cannot be proud of what we have created today. I was just reading Kennedy's words yesterday and thinking we have turned them completely around. Now we are dependent on our country and it is not responding.
William Dotani Feb 19, 2012, 2:32am UTC
Seeing the continual deterioration of life for those in poverty in the Detroit area bothers me. The environment so bad and often dangerous that the feeling of hope is gone and this breeds violence. Environment molds the child.
Thank you.
Patricia J. Feb 19, 2012, 7:21am UTC
We used to go to Detroit on the weekends to go to the shows and have fun but after a while it began to be to dangerous. When I last went to the VA in Detroit I had to have a knee operation, I first noticed the overwhelming presence of VA Police then had to be taken to my hotel by a police car was let in by a security gate and was given a key to the security gate to go and get my dinner that night. It was a scary feeling.
William Dotani Feb 20, 2012, 2:50am UTC
That is a shame. I do not understand why the city has been deteriorating for over 50 years. It's disgraceful. I think Mayor Bing and our Governor are trying to make things better, but the environment in way too many areas look like war zones. The history of empty words has bred a culture of hopelessness in Detroit.
Thank you.
William Dotani Feb 20, 2012, 2:50am UTC
That is a shame. I do not understand why the city has been deteriorating for over 50 years. It's disgraceful. I think Mayor Bing and our Governor are trying to make things better, but the environment in way too many areas look like war zones. The history of empty words has bred a culture of hopelessness in Detroit.
Thank you.
Patricia J. Feb 20, 2012, 8:30am UTC
As much as I dislike Chrysler, it is good that they stayed in Detroit to offer jobs for the residents. The majority of the work, however, comes from gambling and bars and this does not pay much to the workers. Gambling is very addictive as well so working in a casino is not always a good thing.
William Dotani Feb 21, 2012, 3:29am UTC
I agree.
Pam Brittain Feb 18, 2012, 2:15pm UTC
So well put, William.
William Dotani Feb 19, 2012, 2:32am UTC
Seeing the continual deterioration of life for those in poverty in the Detroit area bothers me. The environment so bad and often dangerous that the feeling of hope is gone and this breeds violence. Environment molds the child.
Thank you.
Peter Joseph Swanson Feb 18, 2012, 5:01pm UTC
Moving!
William Dotani Feb 19, 2012, 2:32am UTC
Seeing the continual deterioration of life for those in poverty in the Detroit area bothers me. The environment so bad and often dangerous that the feeling of hope is gone and this breeds violence. Environment molds the child.
Thank you.
Elsie Duggan Feb 18, 2012, 7:32pm UTC
Wonderful description of our unfortunate circumstances to day. I can't remember back to when things were as bad as they are now, sad statement to make. Beautifully written
William, love, Elsie
William Dotani Feb 19, 2012, 2:33am UTC
Seeing the continual deterioration of life for those in poverty in the Detroit area bothers me. The environment so bad and often dangerous that the feeling of hope is gone and this breeds violence. Environment molds the child.
Thank you.
Donna C. Feb 18, 2012, 10:13pm UTC
This is so today, William.
I think they are all lying though their teeth. And no one
does anything if it doesn't gain them $$ in D.C.
William Dotani Feb 19, 2012, 2:33am UTC
Seeing the continual deterioration of life for those in poverty in the Detroit area bothers me. The environment so bad and often dangerous that the feeling of hope is gone and this breeds violence. Environment molds the child.
Thank you.
jeanne clarke Feb 19, 2012, 7:25am UTC
You could also be describing where I live, William. The sound of sirens is our babies' lullaby... sad.
William Dotani Feb 20, 2012, 1:41am UTC
It is sad: A sorrow for our country. I believe we have lost God's blessing because of the deceit, dishonestly and dishnorable actions of too many powerful people in all 3 branches of government.
Thank you.
Barbara H. Feb 19, 2012, 3:57pm UTC
You've hit it right on, William, our children are our future and in living for today we are not protecting or providing for a future. Selfishness and greed the prime time message.
William Dotani Feb 20, 2012, 1:41am UTC
It is sad: A sorrow for our country. I believe we have lost God's blessing because of the deceit, dishonestly and dishnorable actions of too many powerful people in all 3 branches of government.
Thank you.
Chris Brockman Feb 19, 2012, 5:39pm UTC
Besides the ongoing problems of Michigan in particular, I see here a reaction, perhaps, to the propaganda of indifference to the underclass that precedes the Michigan primary. Lost even in the perfidious concern for the "middle class" is an unconcern for the burgeoning lower class. There is compassion, here at least, in what you write.
William Dotani Feb 20, 2012, 1:47am UTC
It may seem odd that I like our Gov. Synder. He is quite pragmatic and does care. He's not a good public speaker, but his willingness to listen to the other side is more like Prez Reagan than the sham shame of partisan D.C. politicians.
No matter what side you're on, compassion matters.

I believe we have lost God's blessing because of the deceit, dishonestly and dishnorable actions of too many powerful people in all 3 branches of government.
Thank you.
Chris Brockman Feb 20, 2012, 8:32pm UTC
Yes, you might say we've been cursed with venal politicians.
William Dotani Feb 21, 2012, 3:34am UTC
Maybe the Mayan foresaw our self serving politicians and decided after our election there'd be no need to celebrate X-Mas day. I've never seen such words of hatred by public officials. It's simply disgraceful behavior that citizens and the world can plainly see.
Svetlana Goryacheva Feb 24, 2012, 3:25am UTC
"A child should not be in politician’s toolbox
Heartless economy is all he seems to preach..."

Sounds familiar... even too familiar. Here the dishonesty and deceit is even more rampant... with all the due consequences. Our elite builds regular palaces, while the unfortunate parents have to beg for money to save the lives of the terminally ill children... A great? powerful poem, dear Bill - as always!

Blessings and best wishes in a plenty - S.
William Dotani Feb 24, 2012, 4:04am UTC
Every Russian I've ever met has been nice, so when there are political tensions between our nations I of course tell my friends this is Svetlana Goryachev's fault. I mean, we don't want to blame Putin on a horse shirtless.
Sorry, I just have a satirical sense of humor. I actually did meet a few Russians in Hokkaido and of course they bought me a few beers and tried to get me to include Valamir in my lessons: That was 25 years ago and they were soothsayers.
The state of world affairs is dire and yet we should continue celebrating moments of peace.
Thank you.
Korak 257 Feb 24, 2012, 6:18am UTC
wow...wow, very well written to envoke so much thought, William. I have read the comments above and with that say...I flew into Detriot a few weeks back. The entire country is failing, Detroit is one up front with many more to fail. This is a super read.
William Dotani Feb 25, 2012, 4:29am UTC
Detroit has had horrible poverty for the past 50 years. Part of the problem is that Detroit has a large African American majority. Most are good people, but there are the race-baiters, gangs because of poverty and no jobs in the city for most forced to work welfare single mothers. It is just sad. I hate race baiters, but in Detroit they have a valid point.
william d. Feb 24, 2012, 10:12am UTC
The disconnect is not just with politicians. Until you live it I just don't think it sinks in. For ten years I followed along at the hip pocket of a "front-line" pastor embedded in the worst part of the hood. The two of us pastors prayed together every Tuesday night across the tracks in his small church. We also walked the hood some Friday nights. I was in his home constantly and involved in his community. And, guess what! I still feel like it has not personally sunk in. I watched kids grow up in the church and be swallowed up by the "streets". I prayed with drug addicted prostitutes who for just a few minutes could have been saved...but there was no doctor or facility to help. The system was plugged.

I watch in abject horror as public education now turns away from "No Child Left Behind". I cringe with sorrow in my gut as I see well meaning people strip prayer from every Black kid's reach in the public domain. Clueless! Clueless! Clueless! I could go on and on about the disconnect between weeping mothers in the hood and politicians. Heartless politicians from both sides of the aisle. And yet! I myself would not catch that groove of understanding until embedded. Not just by neighborhood but by color and history and poverty.

For over forty years I have poured my heart and resources into frontline ministry! And in my very home while raising our kids! It is soooo nice to read your poem! Keep it up!
William Dotani Feb 25, 2012, 4:32am UTC
I applaud your efforts. I am of the opinion that the environment molds the child. All the make better school bandaids won't work until the child feels safe and respects his environment.
Excellent comment. Thank you.

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