Celebrating National Poetry Month 2015
“Hands-On Experience”
Copyright © 2006, Recited at National Day to End Sexual Violence sponsored by DC Rape Crisis Center, Washington, DC (Apr. 6, 2006).
If I put my hands on you in a threatening way
Get up. Get out. Don’t stay.
While there is a reason for my behavior
The reason is not in your favor
Indeed, the reason I threaten you really doesn’t matter
Someone who batters is someone who batters
Of course, the reason may help you understand
In the meantime, I can’t control my hands
Believe me, this is a signal I’m out of control
I’m clearly not connected to my soul
My reason is nothing for you to savor
Please do us both a favor
Believe in yourself and that you matter
Know that what I’m doing is not meant to flatter
If I put my hands on you in a threatening way
Get up. Get out. Don’t stay.
This is a hands-on experience you don’t deserve
This experience will only fray your nerves
If I put my hands on you in any unacceptable way
There’s only one word for you to say
Goodbye.
Goodbye in whatever language you choose
Say goodbye before I further abuse
Don’t wait for the violence to escalate
If you wait, it might be too late
If I put my hands on you, I can’t control myself
I pose a danger to you, myself, and to anyone else
I need help to understand my deep emotional pain
My rage and my anger take me to the brink of being insane
I don’t know what triggers my anger and rage
I want to stop before I reach another age
The problem is I’ve been angry for a very long time
No one seems to care what’s on my mind
I want help. I desperately do
I’m afraid to seek help. Instead, I attack you
If I don’t seek help and deal with my pain
We’ll both suffer from emotional drain
Until I seek help for my deep seeded pain
You will be the target where I aim
There’s no excuse for me to treat you unkind
Saying I’m sorry is not enough each time
If I hurt you once, I will hurt you again
There’s no need for you to pretend
Don’t pretend I’ve done nothing wrong
With me, you don’t belong
You deserve to be treated like a queen
Not with violence or words that demean
Do not accept my unacceptable behavior
Please do us both a favor
Leave.
Leave and do not come back
You should not be attacked
When I choose to get help and clean up my act
If you’re available, I’ll make contact
Maybe then, we can begin again
For now, let this be the end
I’ve said it before and I must say it again
If I put my hands on you in a threatening way
Your life is in danger. Get out. Don’t stay.
Love and Light for your Tuesday!
CeLillianne Green is a conscious spirit, attorney-at-law, public speaker, mediator, and prolific poet. She combines her experiences and virtuosity in much of her writing. Her focus is centered on such topics as love, spirituality, relationships, history, and politics. CeLillianne has been inspired, invited, and commissioned to write poetry to honor individuals and to recognize events, anniversaries, and institutions.
In 2003, CeLillianne published her first written poem Because I Love You. She proceeded in 2005, which brought about more thought-provoking observations in culture through prose and poetry. In 2009, CeLillianne Green was recognized as a Social Justice Thought Leader by the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University in its publication “Obama Reflections: From Election Day to Presidency.” In 2010, she published her first book That Word which was recently selected for inclusion in the 2015 DC Black Theatre Festival Reading Series, which takes place June 19-28, 2015.
Her first spoken word recording CeLillianne Says was released in 2011, followed by her eBook Marching Orders & She Rose in 2013. More recent poems include Stand Your Ground which was written in response to the jury verdict after the killing of Trayvon Martin, A Graceful Bow & My My My paid tribute to Maya Angelou, and Casual Killing to address police killings of African Americans. http://www.celilliannegreen.com
That Word Theatrical Reading Production has been selected by the DC Black Theatre Festival which takes place June 19-28, 2015. If you would like to support this production, please visit:
http://www.gofundme.com/qw752a8. If you prefer to make a contribution via regular mail, please send to: P.O. Box 29649, Washington, D.C. 20017. Thank you for your support.
National Poetry Month Posts: April 2014 (Scott Hastie, Amanda Johnston, Rebecca Villarreal, Nathan Peoples, Tracy Chiles McGhee, Alan King). April 2013 (Kwame Alexander, Joel Dias-Porter, Scott Hastie, Terry Spencer Edwards, Jarvis Talley)
Tuesday Morning Love ™ 
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