by: Yosef Tinkelman
words can be taken, sunken like stones.
words can be hidden, buried like bones.
words can be stolen, broken by lies.
instead i take words, fly em up to the skies.
my words are open, sprouted like seeds.
these words were chosen, picked like weeds.
i take my words, plant em like seeds.
sow my actions like crops, love it feeds.
i take these words, put em in my heart,
deep down in the warmest part.
in my heart, deep down word devotion,
i mix words like a potion,
to carry hope through this verbal procession.
as a child i was taught not to speak out of turn,
to listen to my elders, my ears they did burn.
no talk of queerness, no lesson of fearlessness.
words of prayer, though sweet in song,
tasted bitter on my lips, told me i was wrong.
it’s my turn to speak, i’m not wrong.
these words taste sweet and sound strong.
i take words like faggot, sissy and freak,
use em to make me feel strong instead of weak.
between man and woman i won’t choose a side.
from male to female there’s nowhere to hide.
i’ll sing my gender free soul over the division.
wail down the wall, to dance with the women.
no darwin in my fish, i got walt whitman.
born ready to win the right to marry men.
i won’t be brought down by the hatred in this world.
i’ll stay strong, this fight will be unfurled.
my words strike back like empire,
with love they take me higher.
positive words are like lotion, leave me soft and smooth.
open me up like pores, my heart they soothe.
my heart is a weapon, queer love is the amo.
nations a free mind state, my flag is a rainbow.
as a verbal assassin, my sword is a pen.
greed and fear are my sworn enemy.
they feed hate so i fight them verbally.
greed lives inside a bubble,
while it turns the earth into rubble.
words they shatter the bubble like rocks.
me and my words fight big like paul bunyan and his blue ox.
fear lives inside a box.
on the weak it preys, the strong it stalks.
words burn the box like fire.
kindle it with truth, the flames grow higher.
between love and hate, there will be no debate.
love will penetrate the hateful mind state.
positive words build a mental fortress in which truth lives pure.
fortify it with love, there is greatness in store.
i take this world, put it in my heart,
deep down in the warmest part.
Yosef Tinkelman is a 32 year old queergay man. Yosef grew up in Massachusetts and have lived in Oakland, CA for 10 years. Tinkleman has been involved in environmental and social justice activism since Yosef was in High School. Over the years, they have worked and volunteered for various non profits and recently Tinkleman began a sliding scale nutrition, energy work and sound healing practice. Yosef performs live music and spoken word poetry, usually at fundraisers, benefits, rallies — like Occupy Oakland and SF — and in queer spaces.
