(from a Euro-American POV)
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Who are we?
Imperialists. Humanity's blind design, destined to absorb everything for our own use
regardless. . . . regardless of every other concern.
Regardless of the planet’s heartbeat and evolving material, imposing imperialist forms:
Using and changing earth's lubrication, water, crop cycles, its hair and trees, its convictions and faith and diversity.
Blind, destructive humanity. Watched by those ever and still and newly attached to earth. Destined to absorb and also, finally, the opposite: destined to break
through blindness,
to force cracks in dominance,
cracks admitting light and delight.
Some of us splinter the language of empire to see how
heartbeat depends on material
and form,
material requires form and heart,
form reveals matter alive.
a part of humanity has been pushing for us to find our destiny. For us to discover . . . to remember . . . how to serve our planet.
We are destined to rise up . . . on the brink of too late . . . to upset
empire.
Repair our pasts, we cry . . . but how can we? Impossible.
We assist those waiting. We take on simpler tasks: talk with those we ignored and imprisoned, even the polar bear who needs ice and the rice seedlings who need water.
We decide to move into the reality under our constructs. We decide to cooperate, to re-name, to restore.
It’s late, but not wholly impossible.
I am struggling to write!
This is my first poem of 2023,
and it is not quite a poem
Susan, I LOVE this!!!!! Especially the last three sentences. Made me smile. Feel hopeful. Experience Possibility. SO glad I read this tonight! Thanks for linking to earthweal.
ReplyDelete"splinter the language of empire"... that is powerful. When I read Jason Hickel calling the current lopsided carbon emissions scenario 'atmospheric colonisation', I hope, (just a wee bit, but still hope) that 'empire' can be shattered...climate injustice is real and needs the power of words and action. This "not quite a poem" was still brilliant to read, Susan!
ReplyDeleteLate, almost impossible, but we do what we can, learning to beat swords back into plowshares. And what else can we do? The colonial mind is older than its European masters, conquest and destruction is part of the testosteronal DNA, an ancient killing spirit it is death to cower and subsume ... that which surrenders swords to the hammer is what might yet save the world though. Becoming scaled, proportional, a part. Celebrating mystery and surprise, "light and delight." Finding our deeper heartbeat. Yes. The mind can be decolonized. So great to see you at earthweal Susan,
ReplyDeleteWho are we indeed? Your poem wanders through the maze of thought, I can feel the wheels turning from past to present with hope for the future. If inly we would follow the heart of the earth I think there could be healing. At least I hope so!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back!