I’d rather not mirror today’s world in a poem
turning as it does toward fascism and genocide.
Instead, I’ll reflect the here and now, a picture-
perfect landscape that keeps me anchored.
Home is a tree-surrounded haven. We hear muted
traffic roaring beyond the trees, but crickets and
bird calls are louder. We see planes pass over
now and then. We eat, chat, and feed our souls.
Those of us who read the news spend extra time
with the trees. We cannot swallow the killing
in Gaza, the chaos of ICE here. We cannot
stomach the destruction of a sustainable future.
Some go out to rally with home-made signs: Honk-
if-you stand-for-democracy, Save-social-security,
No-Kings, Bring-home-the-hostages, Keep-our-buses-
running, and more. We study non-violent action.
We know our idyllic anchor is vulnerable. We know
it's not the only one. Our poems smell of horrors,
fear, and responsibility. They reach far for hope.
At home, we rest and age while praying for sanity.
This is the sum of our lives now...writing a few words or holding a few placards, feeling the hopelessness and at the same time continuing with our normal lives...it makes no sense but that's what it is...perfectly captured, Susan.
ReplyDelete".....that keeps me anchored."---It's good to keep our focus on this and radiate what is sane. I feel this is the 'responsibility' that we have now. Your poem perfectly captures our times.
ReplyDeleteI, too, take comfort in my surroundings. I love that your place is surrounded by trees and that it nourishes your spirit. I wish ICE understood non-violent action. I just saw a video of peaceful protesters being brutally beaten and cannot believe how things have changed in six months and what is allowed that never would have been condoned before. I love your lines about spending time with the trees after watching the news.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Susan. I too would rather not mirror our world in a poem, as the poem would be too depressing and pessimistic. But most often these horrors creep into our poems, as we cannot escape the reality, even in poems.....though we sometimes try. I love the perfect landscape you have chosen. So peaceful, one to meditate on. And, yes we have to spend extra time with the trees, the lakes, the birds, and listen for the laughter anywhere we can find it.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is a powerful mirror of today’s world, Susan, with the killing in Gaza and the chaos of ICE finding its way into your poem even when you don’t want it to.
ReplyDeleteI hear you and feel you Exactly how most of us feel so yes this is now important and beautiful "but crickets and bird calls are louder."
ReplyDeleteI love this reflection on a positive memory and hope we can all summon up our inner trees and pictures to make life better - Jae
ReplyDeleteIt is the common everyday things, the small pleasures, the love we can garner and the home we are ;lucky enough to still have, that give us strength to deal with the madness of the current times, Susan. Your poem may centre on those small ordinary things, but one can also read the horror of the larger world around your oasis. Well-penned!
ReplyDeleteI take comfort in the small woods behind my home. It is my sanctuary. A place where I can find peace in the swirling anger we live in.
ReplyDeleteI too spend more time in nature to nurture my soul and create some sort of balance. Hoping and praying sanity returns.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sensitive poem! There are so many things we would change if we could, but we will keep trying. Nice prompt!
ReplyDeleteI love how you incorporated YOUR PLACE in this beautifully constructed poem. Our towns sound very much alike. Bless our homes, all of them.
ReplyDelete