Lillian’s Happiness Project prompt, today at d’Verse, reminded me of the song we sang as kids: “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands…” “…stomp your feet” “…say AMEN!” It is amazing how may people get stressed out from things they have no control over. Tomorrow is election day in the US. If you watched all the ads on TV it is no wonder you are depressed and stressed. We can only control how we respond to life. What will you do to make tomorrow better, no matter who wins?
Don’t let tomorrow’s election steal your happiness
There is much more to life than a political agenda
Live life as you always have bringing joy to everyone
Help a neighbor… Call a friend… Smile
Let you happiness reflect the joy and love within you
I wrote this wild poem four years ago as a response to the upcoming election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The conversations then were not that unlike what is being said now, as many could not imagine that Trump could win the election. As we all know he did win and is now trying once more. Only time will tell. It is amazing how the muck of politics goes on and on and the alligators in the swamp keep getting fatter and fatter.
Today at d’Verse, Lisa asked us to consider the Vatic Voice, the voice of the prophet in our poetry, speaking as though from the voice of God! I decided to try something different for me with a prophetic political rant. Tonight is the first of the Presidential Debates. Never have we had such extreme differences in the candidates. It is easy to simply choose someone who thinks and talks like we do, but there is much more at stake. We are choosing a way of thinking for the future of the country. The two candidates are really irrelevant, in my opinion. We are voting for a philosophy.
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I am in the winter of my mind, where shadows creep
and darkness comes early // seeming never to sleep…
closing in and overshadowing my thoughts.
Creativity remains with each bright new day
bringing a spot of sunshine from friends far away
of like minded bloggers and a few online friends.
I must close off the darkness // of “hurricane News”
and “tornadoes of fear” // with darkness infused
leaving my mind destroyed by what I hear.
I’ll go back to my writing and pretend not to see
the streets in upheaval and the mothers who plea
for children caught in the crossfire // each day, it seems.
For truth these days seem more one’s perception
with marching politicians and Covid physicians
and dissent is met with racial accusations.
Photo; Dwight L. Roth
I am sharing this on open link night at d”Verse poets night. With all that has been going on the past five months, I feel a little stir-crazy at times. Seems a lot of others feel the same way from all chaos I see happening across the country, on the evening news. It pains me to see children shot, and no one seems to raise a voice or carry a sign for them. Very sad indeed! These are some of my thoughts as I stay in my cocoon!
Today at d’Verse, Amaya asked us to take our poetry to taboo places, writing about subjects such as sex politics, religion. I decided to incorporate all three in my poem choice. Thousands of babies are aborted in this country and around the world every year. Some have convinced themselves that it is a woman’s right over her own body to abort the life within her. Yet those same individuals decry the destruction of turtle or eagle nests. Both have become political agendas, and it is now the law that a woman can choose to have or not have her baby growing inside her. I am not sure how we can justify this choice.
How incensed our cries
When turtle eggs are destroyed…
Inflicting strict fines;
Yet, the government pays for
destruction of the unborn…
Convenience changes
our values of life and death.
Some call it Pro Choice;
“It’s a woman’s right to choose.”
Seems more like a holocaust …
I saw America gathered on a cold November night
Black and white, yellow and red with all blends in between
I saw America gathered together as one people…
Children of integration, people of hope, “silver spoons,” and ghetto moms
I saw America gathered with joy in their hearts
College Students, blue collar workers, business men, and teachers
I saw America gathered “One Nation Under God”
People of all faiths, people of no faith, all with hope for the future
I saw America gathered a shining light to the world
Examples of hope, oneness, unity, and love, speaking with one voice
I saw America gathered watching History being made
Bringing down walls of race and fear that for too long held us back
I saw America gathered fulfilling ancestral dreams
Of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King
I saw America gathered to let the whole world know
Those differences can be transcended and peace can be attained.
I saw America gathered and it made me very proud
To be part of this great country where every voice is heard
I saw America gathered and I prayed, that God
Would give our new president wisdom in the difficult path ahead
I saw America gathered as Barack Obama spoke
With humility and pride, confidence and strength, wrapped in words of hope
I saw America gathered eager for national change
Not black or white, rich or poor, simply Americans
…and nothing more!
*Back in 2008. after the disastrous Bush years of the invasion of Iraq, I and many other Americans were drawn in by Obama’s message of Hope and Change. Although the “Hope and Change” did not turn out the way I had anticipated, watching the crowd who came out to see President elect Obama at Grant park that night, was a very moving experience. Immediately following the victory speech, I was inspired to write this.
Sadly the desire to work together was immediately crushed by Republicans, just the way it has now been with the Democarats with Trump. Division and polarization has brought great harm to the country. The vision I saw happening in Grant Park that election evening seems to have gone up in political smoke!
Tonight at d’Verse we were asked to write a poem that reflects Black History Month. The above is my naive dream that we could all come together to create the Hope and Change our country needed.
What’s Happening…
As a child, I went to the amusement park
Paid the ticket fee and climbed in for the ride
Through the Fun House of smoke and mirrors;
Frightened and scared as the monsters jumped out
Knowing that all that happens in there is not real.
*
Watching magicians on TV try to fool Penn and Teller,
I know that sleight of hand and trickery are all a part;
Fooling me right before my very eyes // my jaw drops
How in the world did he do that?
…Much like our politicians!
*
Yet we take our ride into the Political Fun House
Trying to convince ourselves that everything is real;
That slight of hand proves they are right;
Trying to see Truth through smoke and mirrors
As Deceit and Trickery put on their scary show
***** … Is Not What’s Going On!
*****
Painting: Dwight L. Roth
Tonight, at d’Verse, Amaya asked us to speak out with our poetic voice regarding the way things are going in our world. All the craziness around us keeps being fed back through the smoke and mirrors of the media, each one giving their slant. My view is we should not be surprised. We all know that “what’s happening is not what’s going on!” Yet we always hope it will be better the next ride around!
Politics
A circus of smoke and mirrors
Half-truths polished and shiny
Stretching every word out of context
Smoke screens of the insignificant
Always hiding reality
Behind a cover of lies
Showing only fragments
Promising pots of gold
At the end of the rainbow
False hope in a holey bucket
Filled with wishes and fantasies
Pouring steadily out the bottom
Mirrors in a TV funhouse of fright
Giving only distorted views
Twisting everything out of proportion
Don’t believe the hype
Look beyond the smoke and mirrors
Dig out the shreds of truth
Always remember
What you see is not what you will get