No – A poem
Our group work client Guy recently wrote a poem about the complex power of saying no. He explains, “Several years ago I got a tattoo to remind me that I could say, ‘No’. Unfortunately, I often forget to look at my arm!
“More recently I wrote a poem to voice the silent No that has been locked inside me since I was a child. It’s hard to live when you reject the world, your body, the very nature of life. But, it is a starting point….”
No
No, I don’t like this.
No, I don’t want that.
No, you are cruel.
No, I am gone.
No, this isn’t happening.
No, we are floating.
No, a dream.
No, wrong.
No, awake.
No, pain.
No, memory.
No, shame.
No me
NO me
kNOw me
KNOW me
No to the world
No to the people
No to the church
No to the steeple
No to life
No to love
No to hope
No to yes
Yes to no
Yes to hate
Yes to me
Yes to gate
Yes to rage
Yes to fear
Yes to boundary
Yes to here
Yes to sadness
Yes to tears
Yesterday
Yes today
Yes to this
No to that
I am not you
I am not that
– Guy
