What do I know <br />What can I know <br />What fine lessons <br />What has been taught <br /> <br />I know the pain- <br />bitter, burning <br />as it poisons <br />my very soul <br /> <br />Oh, humiliation- <br />now, that is a large word <br />with a larger effect <br />shame, heaped upon oneself <br /> <br />I know despair- <br />hopeless, wanting <br />needing, dying <br />from inside out <br /> <br />Now the degradation- <br />there is yet another <br />treated like you are less <br />and worse, feeling like less <br /> <br />How I know suffering <br />and much mental anguish <br />it's intolerable <br />death would be a release <br /> <br />What it is like <br />to be haunted <br />by memories <br />regret, sorrow <br /> <br />Then survival- <br />insufficient <br />an existence <br />does not mean life <br /> <br />I know wondrous hope- <br />giving me reason <br />to continue on <br />with this thing called life <br /> <br />Determination- <br />there is a big word <br />the will, and desire <br />to fight and strive- live <br /> <br />What about the joy- <br />of simply being <br />you and that is all <br />and that is enough <br /> <br />Then there is love, sweet love- <br />the biggest word of all <br />giving hope, and freedom <br />it is beautiful <br /> <br />What do I know <br />What can I know <br />What fine lessons <br />What has been taught <br /> <br />Without the bad <br />we would never <br />APPRECIATE <br />what good we have<br /><br />Angela Davis<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-do-i-know/
