In creating a tribute to the life and works of welfare reform activist Johnnie Tillmon, we at STANDARDS also wanted to include a part of her legacy: those words of those people who have been most affected and inspired by Tillmon.

Here, we present the poetry of two women from the Read/Write/Now Adult Learning Center in Massachusetts. The booklet from which this poetry is taken was gathered by Read/Write/Now as part of a participatory research effort called the Changes Project.

Of their work, the authors say:

We wrote this book because we believe that stories have the power to make change. We want to break the harmful myths and stereotypes about women who are welfare recipients. We want to tell stories that show the strength and courage of women who are on welfare and struggling to raise a healthy family. We want to tell stories that show the powerful hopes and dreams of women on welfare, their desires to be independent, and their struggles to make this possible. The stories in this book are of strong women who are working hard to make their lives better. This book is a place for thesewomen to tell their stories. These are stories of hardship, but also of courage and hope. They are stories that need to be heard.

We at STANDARDS agree.

Our Poetry

Authors' Note: We wrote these poems to express our thoughts and feelings about Welfare Reform.

The Man's Stereotype

Perhaps they could be couch potatoes too,
And Jerry Springer lay-abouts,
soap opera fans.
Why haven't they been asked to keep their legs closed?
Or, to tie it in a knot?
Why haven't they been offered birth control?
Or, invited to abuse and batter their bodies?
There should be a law.
If a man has a family and leaves it,
if he leaves that family,
and that family has no choice but to go on welfare,
and then he goes off and makes another family,
why can't there be a law against that?
Why do the men give the women reputations?
What gives them the right?
What are they going to tell their children?
Why do they lay the blame on us?
Why should we be shunned?
It takes a man to stand up to his responsibilities,

a man,
not a baby-maker.
What do you call a man who leaves,
who goes off and makes more children?
A slut.

August 18, 1999
Karen Gladden and Karen Rivera

Luxury

Welfare Reform is not a luxury.
It' s not promising,
And it' s definitely not a crutch.
It' s hopeless.
Hum the words,
"There' s no food in the house -
No breakfast,
No lunch."
Hum the words,
"No gas,
No lights,"
Hum the words.
Lazy? No.
It's starvation,
It's, "About to be homeless."
Luxury? No.
No.
No.

November 18, 1999

Karen Rivera and Karen Gladden

Welfare Reform

Welfare Reform is running water.
The water is getting deep and we
Can' t stay afloat.
We get hit with boulders and we
Can' t stay afloat.
God Help Me.

July 20, 1998
Karen Rivera