Third time's a charm, right? My Crater of Diamonds piece (the third one I've submitted) won honorable mention over at Trazzler! Yay! So, obviously, I've tried again, with the National Steinbeck Center (described below in Rocinante...).
So far, I've been scoping out places I've already been and pictures I've already taken. It's a little less time-consuming to be writing based off of memories than to take the time to go somewhere with the specific intent of reviewing the place for a writing contest. However, today, with about three books on my school reading list and an eight-page paper to write before Tuesday, I decided to ditch my house and go to Busboys and Poets, a D.C. institution that is on the Trazzler contest list. I'm pretty excited that I've been sitting here for two hours, eating brunch and reading, and that they have zero problem with this. I'm also pretty excited that I've managed to actually accomplish a fair amount of reading for my classes in an environment that buzzes with chatter and laughter, is lit up by the patrons' smiles and the vast windows, and has dozens of objects that attract my attention when I look up. My favorites? The sign stating, "Private Poetry: Trespassers Welcome," and the Langston Hughes poem "Democracy" printed on the menu.
I like poetry, though I don't often seek it out. And this particular poem distracted me from my intended reading because it spoke so much to the ongoing troubles in Syria and the partisan fights here in America. So for those of you like me, who read poetry only when it comes to you, here's a poem to mull over:
Democracy
by Langston Hughes
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.
