When did I stop listening to songs and anthems of
survival?
Songs like “A Change is gonna come” and “What’s going on?”
Songs like “I will survive” and “Respect.” Songs that formed the
musical and rhythmic background of peace work and
feminism
of my middle years. Songs I loved from the Civil Rights
movement.
When I hear them now, tears flow to the surface of inactivity.
I hum and feel my feet twitching with the memory of active days.
Where I live, livelier activists than me started the
group “Good Trouble”
to raise enthusiasm for projects of resistance that we
old folks can
do: Sending postcards, making phone calls, picketing on
the corner.
Sitting here, I remember how powerful it felt to be part of movements,
to know it was survival of the powerful, and to claim
power
in the name of humanity as we wished it could be. In reverie, then:
I shake out the stiffness and neglect in my legs and
elbows, flex my hands,
and then dance in the ancient rhythm I knew before
putting my feet up.
Instead of frowning at the misuse of the world’s resources,
in reverie, I travel uphill and down plains, naming things. No matter how slowly I move. I move.
Touching flowers and trees to left and right, sharing the
force of the dance
with life that also moves slowly. The wind joins us and clouds appear
just before sunset for the wildest glow. Reverie.
A kind of prayer.
#
For my prompt "survival."
I feel this poem, Susan. When I hear the music and watch the videos of those more hopeful times when so many were united for peace, for justice, for a better world, the tears come so easily - because what we are living is so far from the dream we ALMOST made come true. Dark forces are strong. But I have to believe far more of us are beings of light than darkness. I love John Lewis and his Good Trouble. How awesome that you know some of the activists from that movement. I know you have been very active for peace and a better world too. We are slower now, but still can do what we are able to do - as you say, emails, letters, petitions - POEMS!!! There is an Indigenous march here next week - I can only go the first block, but it is good to show up. "Sharing the force with the dance of life that also moves slowly." I love that! We still contribute! Your poem made me remember a video that cracked me up back in the day, might bring a smile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmisJXILsDo
ReplyDeleteYes, those old songs and anthems which used to feel so empowering now make me feel so very sad also. Where are we now? Where are the anthems which empower us today when things are so much worse (in my opinion) than those days we thought things were bad? I truthfully am pessimistic, feeling there is nothing I personally can do. My poetry speaks to no one. And prayer seems futile. I loved the hopefulness of those former times, the song......yes, the songs!
ReplyDelete"No matter how slowly I move. I move."---This movement is true survival and very much inspiring. To be in a reverie that feels like a prayer is also empowering for the mind, body, soul and the environment. I feel that we cannot go on in the action mood forever and we must spare some times for stillness to be in peace. It's imperative. This poem teaches me this. So beautifully put, Susan.
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