When will humanity win?

Written by Julie Easley from Thriving Women

Inspired by GRIPP’s Learning Together about Poverty workshop and having noted the statue of William Shakespeare outside the Amnesty office, Julie takes the words and phrases spoken on the day to create this poetic call for unity.

To be or not to be

poor – do you think we have a choice

when government policies

are part of the problem

and financial insecurity

becomes like Groundhog Day.

To be or not to be

excluded – do you think we have a choice

when systematic cuts exacerbate inequality

and discrimination feels like a cage,

when your language stops us

even being seen as a human being.

To be or not to be

judged – do you think we have a choice

when you say our poverty is due to lack of skill

and being watched is a cycle.

When the system having a hold causes trauma,

always looking for the negative

To be or not to be

heard – do you think we have a choice

when fighting a societal attitude

and system means

you talk at us not with us.

When we don’t have the freedom to say no.

To be or not to be

brave – do you think we have a choice

when we feel like we’re blamed for everything

and courage is all we have left,

when shame and guilt

stigmatise and dehumanise.

To be or not to be

silent – do you think we have a choice

when poverty is a human rights issue

and our lived experience

means we will challenge

where voices aren’t being heard.

To be or not to be

united – do you think we have a choice

when the solution is working together

to give everyone a shoe that fits.

We will stand up for others because

without community we are nothing.