More Heart

(Mehr Herz)

for all people who still see
for all people who still feel
for all people with whom moments become noticeable
for ourselves, whenever we realise that life comes from life!
for all people who still notice what’s happening here
for those who gave and give so much to struggle for the individual’s freedom
freedom in ourselves when we rub our eyes and realise we’re not alone
freedom in ourselves when we experience how it feels to be here for each other
freedom in ourselves when we contradict everyday normality
freedom in ourselves when we mutually blow away the ideologies in our heads and hearts
have i already told you that you are beautiful?
i could cry thinking of your freedom’s beauty.
whenever you’ve air to breathe and your breath becomes noticeable.
when we see and discover beauty, do not take it as commonplace
and succeed in redefining it again and again.
because we give things their value.
we decide what is beautiful and important to us.
no normality is ever to tell us otherwise.
more space, more air, more beauty, more heart.

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Go For It!

history and presence shine glaringly:
they draw images, they draw identities…
they draw enlightenment, civilisation, wars for human rights and freedom
they draw poor children, dictatorships and war for civilisation for all!
one global fight against a threat from outside
europe, close ranks, as your light on the world is in danger
the cracks on the margins radiate through dark areas
but what can be seen if people are kept in the dark?
we can try to take a closer look or leave it
we can listen or just keep on talking
human beings are kept in dependence
human beings are no individuals
hore than five centuries of enslavement and colonisation!
the outcries are filtered and drowned militarily
tnicef, development aid, debt relief and bread for the world,
divide and rule – whose hands continue to remain clean?
a white self-image justifies endless domination
racism instead of an end to alienation
demarcation instead of borderless solidarity
postmodern i-desire always defines itself against the ‘other’
suppressive structures and modes of thought saturate/interpenetrate all life
what has claimed the lives of millions is desperately legitimated
what is lacking is the oppressed point of view – which, time and again, must be searched for
what is lacking is our hearing of the outcries – which, fortunately, will never be silenced
together with our privileges, our diverse experiences in mind
it’s high time to meet the hearts of the beasts – yours as well as ours
in the struggles of history and presence – hope also lives and dies because of us!

*

The words “Go for it!” are from a friend who has spurred the refugee protests in Germany and still does. This song is dedicated to all who (have to) fight every day. Whether in the countries of this world exploited by (neo-)colonialism, whether during their flight which often takes years and is disastrous, whether in the prisons and camps of this world, or under the isolating und ill-making deterrence system here in Germany. In times of total alienation and valorisation it is even more important to establish structures of solidarity in order to break down the boundaries that separate us. The “we” in this text especially refers to those who are privileged under all forms of domination and therefore have the responsibility to support struggles of self-liberation and self-organisation of the oppressed and marginalised. An end to white (global, structural and interpersonal) supremacy, interpretative dominance and historiography!
A good introduction to the subject is Noah Sow’s book “Deutschland Schwarz Weiß” (Germany Black & White).

Thank you for the incredibly radical and impressive struggle!

http://www.refugeetentaction.net
https://asylstrikeberlin.wordpress.com

http://thecaravan.org/
http://thevoiceforum.org/

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Boundaries

(Grenzen)

boundaries – all around us
boundaries – in our heads
boundaries – drawn daily
boundaries – accepted and real

thinking in terms of friend or foe facilitates my plan
categories in my head a sorted mind
quite clear where we’re heading or who’s coming with us

soothing safety standardised
reassurance our truths steadily stable

prospects with one’s back to the space
a mind released, forever a dream?

how many words do i have to learn, do i have to invent, do i have to feel to pronounce freedom at last?

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My Inner Petra Pan

(Meine Innere Petra Pan)

petra pan, it’s been a long time since i’ve heard from you
we were unburdened a long time ago

but why did i stop paying attention to you?
too many voices are making me deaf
deaf towards my emotions
deaf towards the child in me

now i’m in the grown up world
many suits prepared for me
scraping them off of my body again
and trying to discover myself

*

There are so many things we are being taught during our life. So many things restricting us. So many inhibitive, repressive and painful things. So many values. So many norms. Where am I supposed to look for guidance? At myself? Is there such a thing or are we “only” the result of social conditions? To what extent am I restricting others in their identity- and lifestyle-choices by reproducing normative roles? How can I possibly discover more about myself? By trying out new stuff, emotions and identities, which weren’t even imaginable for a long time? But which feel great and more like myself and like being alive? How can we facilitate social conditions that make such a thing possible? Our inner child, our feelings, emotions and needs have to be heard… I need more space for developments inside of me and in everyone else!

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Realities & Us

(Realitäten & Wir)

dare it, your doubts can break through it
the picture of our reality, constructed?
you don’t believe how important your actions are

your actions can keep others alive
and not least yourself

create rooms, without pushing into corners
create rooms, without locking ourselves in
create rooms, where we can be creative

create rooms, in which we don’t only administrate
self-organized education, a free solidary life?
shall we just keep on begging or finally take it?

*

In what reality are we living? Why is there so little leeway? What if demanding a €20 raise in wage or student loans doesn’t satisfy us anymore? If we don’t want to bear all this shit anymore? How far can we break out of the logic of economic utilization and the systems of oppression? I once heard that freedom cannot be granted, it must be taken. And I think that’s right. I wish that we could create our own spaces, expand them and live openly and -solidary for our own emancipated reality free from dominations. It could be a commune, a food co-op, a room for independent education and culture, Food Not Bombs groups, solidary collectivization of the housing and production situation and whatever other of the thousands of possibilities we can think of … We could be on the lookout for possibilities to gain as much independence as possible and try to find alternatives to the present lifestyle-choices…

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Your Backpack – My Backpack?

(Dein Rucksack – Mein Rucksack?)

i run nonstop the parkour of my dependences
expectations of others are urging me on

the appreciation of others fills my void
suppressed needs are left back
we’ve learned – to deserve love
we’ve learned – to fulfill all your needs

my nature, your nature – forced onto tracks
my nature, your nature – always available to you
how can i manage to accept myself?
my backpack is so loaded, with emotions so heavy

what have i done to deserve to carry your backpack?
why did you never think about asking me first?
a look in the mirror and it becomes clear again
the same patterns take control of me and i’m not there

but i look in the mirror again
watch my movements and try to discover myself
the moment of reflection can often be hard
but also a moment where i can just stand still
stop running. find out what urges me on

it can be pleasant, to take your time and discover yourself
because how could we give others independent love,
if we never learned to love ourself?
we are all lovable!
so are you!

*

This song is about the emotional abuse children face. Children rely on our love and support. But quite often we give transfer, subconsciously most of the time, our wishes, our shortcomings, our emotional dependencies and desires onto them and take away their rights to independent love and development…The results of these actions on their/our entire life are often underestimated, even today… It hurts when we notice that we always follow same behavioral patterns, which are the result of our early or sometimes later childhood… These are very powerful and not easy to overcome. I want more debate about it and hope that all humans have a chance to confront their childhood. I think we can learn a lot about ourselves and win a higher grade of self-reflection and self-empowerment.
A book tip: Everything by “Alice Miller”, e.g. “The Drama of the Gifted Child”.

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So Much Is Possible!

(So Viel Ist Möglich)

individualized existence
man amongst others and still alone
anywhere between work and the fear to grow old
where can i find the safety, where can i find support?

the fear to loose, fear to be incompatible
or to not have the strength to keep trying it
to oppose the given

open sight like a child to see what keeps us alive
open sight like a child to take what keeps us alive
sense the cracks, tear them up, what else can we see?
rediscover our curiosity and learn from it…

what is the connection between us? what makes us strong?
where do we meet, to get over the solitude?

so much is possible if we look in each others eyes
so much is possible, every construct without force

no more paint by numbers
together without fear
take the pen in your hand
and write our own history!