Powerless
Done to
Not with
Devoid of the ability,
Influence or resources to create meaningful change

“They wont help me so how can I help myself?”
“If they don't care, why should I care about my health?”
“We’ve been waiting for so long
for somebody to do something
we’ve given up asking”

We’ve Given up trying

And the power
And the buck just keep on passing

And the power
And the buck
Just keep on passing by

How can we do things differently?

A lack of power means no hope
Hopelessness is my friend’s neck
In a rope
Hanging from a tree
Feeling like he had no power
To decide who he was going to be

Power
Is an opportunity
An opportunity rarely
Truly afforded to my community

Is power given?

Or taken?

Is power given?

Or taken away?

How can we do things differently?

Devoid of strength
A powerless victim
Lacking the capacity or authority to act
Seeing someone in need and being powerless to help
Anger
Sadness
Disgust and Mistrust
Of power

Who can give me power?

If I ever had power,
Who took it away?

I know
That my power is hidden
Concealed
By those that claim to hold it on my behalf
By those that would give out fish everyday
Before they would issue a permit
To cast my line in waters owned by no one
And only cared for by me
My power is the basis of their authority
Their power is my community
If I refuse to let my power be used
Their sovereignty becomes defused
Illusory
Useless
Ineffective
Powerless

Is power given?

Or taken?

Is power given?

Or taken away?

How can we do things differently?

I have power
The power of speech
The ability to do
The ability to say
Whatever I choose
The ability to act
To help
To nourish
My community

Power is time
Power is resources
Power is truth
And influence
And support

Power is mine to give
Power is mine to receive

Who can give me power?

Who can take my power?

Greed is hoarding power
Holding power
Withholding power
Controlling power
Spending no time
Wasting resources on ticking boxes
Giving out tins of sardines
When there are bigger fish to fry
Wasting time
Bending truth
To keep the illusion of power
At the top of the tower
Out of reach
Behind a screen
A screen to cast shadows on
Shadows of hope

How can we do things differently?

Who can give me power?

Is power given?

Or taken?

Is power given?

Or taken away?

Power is mine to give
Power is mine to receive

Power is knowledge
Knowledge is power
Honesty
Knowledge of self
Knowledge of the power we hold in ourselves
Trust
Not needing a permit to improve
Or to feed each other
When help is needed, who can we turn to
Who can we trust?
If not our brother?
Or our sister?
Our grandmother?
Who knows us better than us?

If we have knowledge
Of ourselves
If we have time
For ourselves
If we have resources
For ourselves
If we have influence
And support
And truth
Then we have power

Now

How can we do things differently?







RAWZ