There It Is By Jayne Cortez

Jayne Cortez's " There It Is," is a poem with a straightforward message. It cuts straight to the chase with no extra philosophical ideas. It's simple and direct. Cortez basically says If you don't do this, then you'll end up this way.. for example Cortez says:
"And if we don't fight
if we don't resist
if we don't organize and unify and
get the power to control our own lives."
Cortez is basically reiterating her point that if something isn't done the way it should be done, then it'll end up a different way, and sometimes the end result might not be what you wanted..Cortez is talking about standing up and being strong for the choices you chose to follow and live by. Cortez is saying to be in control of your life and not to just sit back and let life happen to you. Only you are the one to make the choices that outline or direct where your life is going. you are in charge of your destiny. Cortez then says if you don't do these things:
"Then we will wear
the exaggerated look of captivity
the stylized look of submission
the bizarre look of suicide
the dehumanized look of fear
and the decomposed look of repression
forever and ever and ever
And there it is "
I love the choice of words Cortez used to make that point. If you don't in fact make the choices of your life or stand for what you believe in, you will wear the looks of captivity, submission, suicide, fear, and repression for ever and ever." It makes the message even stronger. You can think of all of these looks but the way it is verbalized makes it so clear in your mind and is something everyone can relate to. If these people don't fight, then they will wear these looks for the rest of their lives.
I find it interesting that Cortez uses the word " wear," in describing the looks on ones face if they don't take charge of their lives. She uses the word " wear," as if she were speaking about wearing an article of clothing. Almost as if the looks are items of clothing making them "wearable." And There It is.. the result or the solution if you don;t do things the way you should get them done.