?????? WHY ??????

[Maureen K Clifford]

???????? WHY ????????



He’s the face you see but don’t see – he is everywhere around.
He might be your closest neighbour or just a face in your town.
You might see him on the buses or you spot him on the train
or each morning busking in the mall in sunshine and in rain.

He’s the one you sometimes see in your local park and streets.
He may sometimes be on park benches dishevelled or asleep.
And sometimes you see him with his kids in a local shopping mall
but generally the sad truth is you don’t see him at all.

But you read about him quite a lot and most of it is bad
and you see his image on TV and in the papers. Sad.
He stands out from the others, not just a face in the crowd.
He’s descended from a race of people, brave and strong and proud.

Naked he came into the world – the same world that we share.
He’ll die the same as we will, leave behind all earthly care.
Whilst here, we leave a footprint. Hopefully good but sometimes bad
and whilst all of us make choices, is the same menu to be had?

The paths we walk may differ, for our country is diverse
but we are all Australians from the moment of our birth
so why is it that I perceive different opportunities
seem to be offered to some, yet we claim equality?

Oh there’s others that look like him, but they’re different not the same
though perhaps they are beneath the skin, that’s another ball game.
What makes the vision different? For it’s clear all don’t agree
but I look, see not a lesser man, but someone just like me.




Maureen Clifford © 09/11

[manfredvijars]

MMMMausie!! Have you done a gender-bender'???

a man just like me

[Maureen K Clifford]

Not last time I looked though I do have my own tool kit and electric drill does that count??? The word ‘man’ was originally gender neutral, meaning more or less the same as the modern day word “person”. It wasn’t until about a thousand years ago that the word “man” started to refer to a male and it wasn’t until the late 20th century that it was almost exclusively used to refer to males.

I am just an old fashioned type of gal Mannie But to keep the purists amongst us happy I have altered it to someone...now that someone can be whatever you like, ......straight, gay, purple with pink spots.....it worries me not at all as long as they/he/she/it/ whatever gets a fair shake.