Followers

Thursday, January 06, 2011

"...point out the inequities, nothing to lose but our chains."

I read this blog post today by Kristin Berkey-Abbott: Artifacts from the Deep Freeze of the Cold War.  It was her trip back into the past as she visited the Cold War years and concluded a poem she had written. The final stanza reads:

I write my own poems. I imagine they will change
the world, that all I must do to rid the planet of injustice
is to point out the inequities, nothing to lose but our chains.
These lines so expressed what I believe many of my generation put so much stock in. Thinking that calling out inequities would lead to an end of a multitude of injustices.  Idealistic? Naive?  Still, as I began to adapt to the life of a poet, putting such things into "my poet perspective," I've had to ask myself if I really believe I can change the world with poems?  Do I think anyone can?

Over a year ago, another poet introduced me to Carolyn Forché, an incredible poet who has established a reputation as a poet of witness. Carolyn very often writes poems that take us very gently into social injustice. I'm not sure if she is changing the world one reader at a time but she certainly has the ability, with great subtlety to unmask things that might otherwise go unnoticed by many. 

What do you think?  Can poets change the world?

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Confession Tuesday

A new year and a first confession of the new year.  Come follow me to the booth...

Dear Reader:

It's been one week since my last confession.  One week of crazy weather ranging from nearly 60 down to the mid to lower teens. A week of sniffles (go figure) and reflections (looking back on the year, not staring in the mirror in an act vanity). But I confess I am I am already getting acclimated to the new year.

As a rule I don't plan out resolutions as such. But I do hold some hopes some goals close to my heart. Some things that will require me to be better at things this year then past.

On New Years day I cranked out my first packet of poetry submissions of the year.  I posted this in my Facebook status to which Diane Lockwood replied, " Don't brag. It's unattractive."  Her remark made me laugh, but I confess I've come to resist submitting my work these past two years like the plague. But my post was my way of establishing some accountability. The next day, I sent off a second packet. I'm finished for the week except for some home work of planning my next victim, I mean venue to submit to next week.  The thing is that I kicked myself in the butt to get started and I want to keep some feeling of momentum.

If I'm happy and upbeat about submitting my work, I'm cranky about the price of gas. I confess that every time gas nears the $3 range or above I get this way. I'm trying to be more positive and upbeat about things, but it seems that not only are we shelling out more for gas, we are driving a lot more these days. When I hear on NPR about countries paying $7 a gallon I don't know how they do it.

Someone at the office cheered my up this week reminding me that pitchers and catchers will be reporting to spring training camps soon. (mid February). "Right around the corner." I believe where her words. I confess my interest in Football has run it's course since my fantasy league is over. Even the Chief's surprise of reaching the playoffs does little for me.  For one thing I'm under no delusions about the team's chances. I'm ready for baseball. But, when have I not been?  ;)

Sunday, January 02, 2011

My attempt at algebra for today

If, as Carlos Fuentes says, "Writing is a struggle against silence" ~
then I'm thinking submitting is a struggle against failure. 

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Unconscious Mutterings - week 413

You say.... I Think:

  • 1.Detective :: Holmes
  • 2.Bra :: Underwire
  • 3.Prove it :: Confirm
  • 4.The end :: Conclusion
  • 5.Messy ::  Trashy
  • 6.Immovable :: Stationary
  • 7.Jingle ::  Rhyme
  • 8.False ::  Wrong
  • 9.Comprehend :: Understand
  • 10.Scream ::  Yell
Get your own list here

    Gold Star

    First day of the new year - I've sent out a submission with four poems to kick off 2011.  Got to be better about this! 

    Friday, December 31, 2010

    2010 Looking Back

    A  Looking back on the year ending ....
      
    We said Hello to

    • Health Care Reform
    • Inception
    • Toy Story 3
    • Ipad
    • Chevy Volt
    • Groupons
    • Glee
    • Hot in Cleveland
    • Rand Paul
    • Bailouts
    • John Boehner 
    • Tears
    • Orange skin tone
    • Joe Miller
    • Scott Brown
    • Lady GaGa
    • Katy Perry
    • San Francisco Giants
    • Body Scans
    • Branding (not cattle)
    • Cupcakes
    • Jerry (Moonbeam) Brown - again
    • Redistricting
    • Borrowing from China
    • Tax breaks for the wealthy
    • Bill Clinton - again



    We said Goodbye to:

    • Joe Miller
    • Witches
    • Christine O'Donnell
    •  Toyota
    • Texting while driving
    • San Diego Padres
    • Texas Rangers
    • Sheen in the Gulf
    • Crashing State Dinners
    • Tom Delay
    • Jobs
    • Failed Banks
    • Privacy
    • Trading Chickens for Health Care
    • Census
    • Immigration reform
    • Swine Flu
    • BP
    • Hallaburton by any name
    • Dick Cheney
    • Don't ask don't tell
    A Few People Who Passed On in 2010

    • Barbara Billingsly
    • Art Linkletter
    • Tony Curtis
    • Eddie Fisher
    • George Steinbrenner
    • J.D. Salanger
    • Joan Southerlans
    • Edward M. Kennedy
    • John Forsythe
    • Lech Kaczynski
    • Lynn Redgrave
    • Lena Horne
    • Peter Graves
    • Tom Bosley
    • TeddyPendergrass
    • Bella Akhmadulina
    • Robert Dana
    • Andrei Voznesensky
    • Robert Byrd
    • Lucille Clifton





      Your List? - Who and What did I miss?


    Thursday, December 30, 2010

    Magpie Tales 46- Poem: No Choice





    No Choice-
    You left me
    like a hand removed
    from gloves—
    flat and limp.

    What could you do?
    The bird had no tweet;
    the stem lacked any bud.

    I was poison;
    you water—

    you could only dilute me
    but always there would be venom.




    2010© Michael A. Wells