The Glasses That Changed the World
Fayetteville, GA
2021, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Crafted by the ones with a narrative behind their cracked lips
They only wish for you to see through the frames they can’t take off
These glasses…
Their lenses made out of the water that is meant to keep them alive but instead is contaminated
with pollutants and reverted eyes
The cries for help from the ones who have been silenced are delivered to us today by these
glasses…
The truth of this matter runs deeper than their melanin and this common ground we share should
sought to be understood and acted on
The economic status of a human should not be a determining factor of the quality of liquid life
they can have
And though we may look different and our roots may vary in depth and location our composition
is still 70% water
These lenses reflect our own eyes that allow us to see that we are letting the lacking lack in an
essential need for survival
So will your eyes reflect inequality or justice?
These glasses…
Show you the droplets of corruption trickling down from the federal underinvestment in our
precious resource
They’d rather build the next biggest attraction than to quench the thirst of the millions of people
in low-income areas
Is this who we are?
Is the human race destined to ignore prejudices that threaten the well-being of our society
Because these glasses…
They have memory
They show you the bias and injustice and look back at you to see if you will use it as your next
hashtag for change or wood to throw in your fire of lies
While you peer through it, it peers through you
Reaching deeper into your character than the melanin in themselves to see if you are worthy of
this gift called life
Called water…
Called earth…
Water has memory
While it may flow through your body it also flows down the cheeks of the oppressed
Even if it doesn’t impact us directly we have to push for justice and equal rights no matter the
race, status, or background
I see a society trying to make the world a better place for everyone and seeking to let water flow
through every pipe with the intention to heal and provide
Let empathy, humanity, and love be the filtration system instead of politics, self-interest, and
greed
These glasses…
They have no filter and are peepholes into one of the many flaws in society today
But together we can put them on and do better than 20/20 vision
Let’s make accessible and clean water to everyone… our 2021 vision instead.
Reflection
Growing up in a suburban area, never having to worry about access to water, I was privileged enough to appreciate my blessings. Once I started writing poetry and spoken word, I began to explore injustices that most overlook. Water accessibility was one that I ran across quite frequently. I was inspired to write something that can speak for the silenced and shed light on the things that need to be changed in society. During my writing process, I felt angry that the topic wasn't more widespread and I sympathized with the ones that have to live this reality of not having the essentials of life. I have learned just how corrupt and unfair it is that there is purposeful underinvestment in communities of color and in low-income areas, especially when they are the ones who may need funding the most. My message to viewers is to educate themselves on what is going on and how the government is deciding on who and what they will spend their money on. Look to help any way you can by advocating for clean water to be accessible to people who need it. I have already started looking at organizations that focus on clean water accessibility, and I encourage others to do the same.