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Play Misty for Me

Date Added: June 12, 2001
Last Updated: Feb. 14, 2006

To many, the Internet seems a wide-open community, where sharing is the rule. It provides a great vehicle for artists of all types - from authors to photographers - to get exposure for their works. Unfortunately, the easy access to information and artistic content leads many to believe it's free for the taking. While poems like this are often co-opted by well-meaning folks with noble intentions, what they are doing still amounts to copyright infringement - even plagiarism - if they don't get the author's permission first.

"Misty"

My name is Misty
I'm only three,
My eyes are swollen
I cannot see,

I must be stupid
I must be bad,
What else could have
Made my daddy so mad?

I wish I were better
I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my mommy
Would still want to hug me.

I can't speak at all
I can't do a wrong
Or else I'm locked up
All the day long.

When I awake
I'm all alone
The house is dark
My folks aren't home.

When my mommy does come
I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll get just
One whipping tonight.

Don't make a sound!
I just heard a car
My daddy is back
From Charlie's Bar.

I hear him curse,
My name he calls,
I press myself
Against the wall.

I try and hide
From his evil eyes,
I'm so afraid now
I'm starting to cry.

He finds me weeping,
He shouts ugly words,
He says its my fault
That he suffers at work.

He slaps me and hits me
And yells at me more,
I finally get free
And I run for the door.

He's already locked it
And I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me
Against the hard wall.

I fall to the floor
With my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues
With more bad words spoken.

"I'm sorry!", I scream,
But its much too late.
His face has been twisted
Into unimaginable hate.

The hurt and the pain
Again and again.
Oh please God, have mercy!
Oh please let it end!

And he finally stops
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless
Sprawled on the floor.

My name is Misty
And I am but three,
Tonight my daddy
Murdered me.

There are thousands of kids out there just like Misty. And you can help. And please pass this poem on because as crazy as it might sound, it might just indirectly change a life. Hey, you NEVER know.

-------------------------------------

Please Sign Here If You Are Against Child Abuse:

The poem above was written in 1996 by Misty Nicole Ramsey and was originally posted on her college Web site. Since then, it has been reposted to dozens of sites and sent to millions via e-mail chain letter - most frequently without crediting the author.

"No, I don't mind if people use my material and share it, that's what it's for," Ramsey told BreakTheChain.org. "However, I DO MIND that NO ONE has listed me as the author."

So many people assume that since material posted online is very easy to copy that is it acceptable to do so. However, most nations have comprehensive copyright laws that protect creative property. With few exceptions, the person who creates and posts poems, photos, artwork and other similar material is the owner of that material and may control how it is used.

Yet well-meaning folks routinely "steal" such creative works by broadcasting them via e-mail chain letters. Often, they send the work alone, simply to share the artistic merit. But, creative content typically gets more mileage when attached to something that makes the subject matter somewhat more compelling, such as a prayer request, an unrelated photo or, in this case, a so-called petition.

BreakTheChain.org recommends strongly against signing any online petition or otherwise providing your personal infomation to a third party to act on your behalf. To illustrate the pointlessness of signing this one, let's put it through the Seven Tests of Armchair Activism:

Expiration - FAILED - We first saw the petition version of this poem in 1999, but it is still going strong as of this writing. Since it isn't dated, it will likely circulate forever. Generally, to be considered effective, a petition must expire, to give a sense of urgency to the cause.
Focus - FAILED - Most everyone would consider themselves "against child abuse," but what does this petition really accomplish? Some argue that it spreads awareness of a serious problem - and nobody would argue that child abuse is one. But this so-called petition offers no insight into the problem, nor does it call for any action or provide resources.
Integrity - FAILED - We know who wrote the poem, but we don't know who turned it into a petition. We do know, however that it was not the poem's author. Since the originator is unknown and no action is specified (aside from signing), the true intent of this chain is also a puzzle.
Privacy - FAILED - No e-mail chain letter is private. Once you've added your information to it, you have no control over where it goes or who sees it. Similarly, you also have no control over what they do with it. The consequences can range from increasing the amount of spam you receive to exposing you to viruses and adware to opening you up to identity theft.
Reliability - FAILED - No e-mail chain letter is reliable, either. Everyone who receives it is free to alter it in any way he or she sees fit.
Sponsorship - FAILED - As stated above, no author is identified, nor is anyone taking responsibility to ensure its success. Since no real purpose is given, there's not much success to ensure, either.
Validity - PASSED - Well, sort of passed. There is no argument that child abuse is a serious problem that affects millions of families worldwide and the cause warrants as much attention and advocacy as we can give it.

While the petition is generally worthless, the poem definitely has its fans. One reader bravely admitted to me in 2001 that this tome changed her life and may have even saved her son's life:

"I am a mom of 2 small children, including a son who is 3. I have had rage disorder for as long as I can remember, but I didn't realize the extent of my rage toward my children until someone sent me this poem. When I got down to the line about the little girl standing in the corner trying to disappear into the wall, I saw my own son doing just that when mommy gets angry. I cried, not for the sappiness of the poem, but because I was out of control. And, I have changed for the better. This poem really made me think of the fear my son must have felt when I got angry. Had I not read this poem, I would probably still be taking my anger out on him."

If you want to share Ms. Ramsey's poem with others, she says it is fine, as long as she is properly credited as the author. And, while your at it, remove the unnecessary petition part as well. Break this chain!

References: None

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