Oh, Hell Nah

Nothing is the same.

We all look to images for

escapism, peace, laughter and a moment that’s tame.

But do we need more?

Temporary anger over issues can be lame.

At the essence of the matter we jump on soundbites, when at the core-

There is so much more to dig; deeper, forget the fame.

The back and forth rhetoric can be such a bore.

After a while all sides sound the same.

Look above and keep both feet planted firmly on the floor.

Don’t keep feeding the flame,

That’s keeping us all insane.

It’s been forever and a day since I sat down and wrote a piece of poetry. I have been inspired by Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb. The last time I wrote poetry I did so in a notebook with real pens and pencils and not on a keyboard with my eyes glued to a monitor. I’m rusty of course, but inspired to keep going as I explore more than one way to write and express myself. The current times we are living in made me think of Countee Cullen‘s, Saturday Child (the title of this post is taken from stanzas 11 and 12). The narrator draws a clear image of one’s own existence with that of the other. There is a clear divide in the haves and have nots as the narrator states:

Some are swaddled in silk and down,

And heralded by a star;

They swathed my limbs in a sackcloth gown

On a night that was black as tar

The clear economic divide Cullen writes about sounds eerily familiar. The ever present juxtaposition of wealth and poverty is a never ending theme we see in this country, and the world at large. Are we too not living in times of economic uncertainty and social unrest? Those with access to resources and wealth have only grown more powerful and wealthy during a time where some parts of this country still does not have adequate drinking water.

As we continue to keep our eyes glued to the chaos in Europe, the chaos in countries that are not highlighted in main stream media as well as the chaos of the increasing costs for gas, food and housing; let us continue to see the humanity in those around us. Lets continue to push beyond only holding our family and friends close as we embark on what continues to be unparalleled times. I am looking forward to you sharing how you stay sane and mentally well during the ebb and flow of our constant changing world.

Blessings.