Blog of the Week - Mary's Thoughts in Troubled Times

In recent months, our very own Mary has written some stirring poems about the changes in daily life in the USA since November. I share her concern over these changes and her yearning for the way things used to be. I asked her if she would share a few of them with us, and happily she said yes. Let's dive in.

Sherry: Mary, in recent months, since the election, I notice that many of your poems have taken on political tones. This is the case with many of us who are distressed at how things are going under the new regime.  Would you like to tell us about this change in your writing? 

Mary:  Well, to be truthful, I really was never politically active before.  I paid attention to the news but had confidence, for the most part, that things would work out and that those in Washington D.C. and our state government had the best interests of their constituents at heart. I can no longer rest easily. 

I fear the influence of big money.  (I suggest the book Dark Money by Jane Mayer if people really want to know how billionaires have maliciously and purposefully furthered their agenda in this country.) 

I am not sure what I can accomplish and sometimes feel very powerless, but I feel compelled to do something.  To make telephone calls.  To attend ‘town halls.’  And, I guess, writing poetry is sometimes a safety valve for me, even though sometimes I wish I could ‘escape’ with my poetry rather than continuing to stress out in words.

Sherry: I applaud your many phone calls to legislators. I am sure they have some effect. I was moved by your poem “Yearning for Ordinary.” Let’s take a look:

YEARNING FOR ORDINARY

We take ordinary for granted
don't realize how extraordinary it is
until slowly methodically
it is being eaten away

Under cover of night
civil rights are rolled back
right wing agenda
moving into place

And everyone still smiles
as if life's the same
we dance with the devil
who waits with his chains

While environment is ruined
and big banks hold sway
and education is forsaken
and healthcare denied

We take ordinary for granted
don't realize how extraordinary it is
until slowly methodically
it is gone and too late.

Sherry: We all yearn for ordinary these days, when each news broadcast brings more bad news. Just ordinary, everyday life, as we lived it before November, seems like a dream to me, now.

We don't want to be political. We would far rather live our lives peacefully, trusting that our leaders have our best interests at heart. But, when they clearly don't, we have little choice but to speak up.

Tell us about your poem, won’t you, and how you felt writing it?

Mary:   I wrote it when I was thinking back 3 years, 6 years, 10 years and thinking about the way things were then & the things I took for granted.  I took for granted that protection for the environment was a universal goal, for example.  I took for granted that women  had control over their own bodies (though even then there were people who wanted to take this away).  

I had taken for granted that there were checks and balances in our government that would work. I had believed that everyone supported freedom of the press. I had believed that no government would tamper with public education.  I could go on and on. 

Sherry: I trusted those checks and balances too. Clearly, they are not working now. 

Mary: As I wrote this poem I realized that there are a large number of people in this country (and in others) who just go about their lives without reflecting on the direction we are heading.  Many people think it will not really affect them. Many people are willing to ‘dance with the devil’ (see poem below) either through apathy, feelings of helplessness, or blind trust. I wonder what it will take for people to wake up and see that government (and life) as we know it is being dismantled one step at a time.

Sherry: There isn't a person alive on the planet who isn't now, or soon will be, feeling the effects of climate change. The new policies and changes occurring now will affect many millions in your country very soon. I think people will be waking up with a jolt.

Your poem “Justice” is another with which I resonate strongly.

JUSTICE

Justice is only as good
as the judge.

Justice depends on
facts revealed.

Justice can be too harsh
for a penitent person.

Justice can be too soft
for a mass murderer.

Justice does not chastise
those who are above the law.

Justice should be
impartial but isn’t.

Even terrorists
believe in justice.

In wars both sides
believe in justice.

Without laws would
justice exist?

Justice for all
means what?

Sherry: I keep remembering Benjamin Creme's quote: "There can be no peace without social justice." The lack of compassion in the changes being made will result in a lot of suffering, a lot of civil unrest. 

Mary:  I wrote this poem when reflecting on what is happening with the judicial system in this country.  I fear what will happen with our Supreme Court and Circuit Courts, as they are filled (by this administration) with people who would like to get rid of the Roe vs. Wade decision and make all abortion totally illegal again, (as well as not paying for women’s birth control) & with those who are against LGBT rights and protections.  

I fear also that many of the things that are happening clandestinely outside of the judiciary are so subtle (like information being removed from government web sites) that most will not take note.  I fear for the undocumented & cry for their heartless treatment.  And, of course, feel almost powerless in the way that healthcare is being taken away or made prohibitively expensive - especially for the poor or the aged.  But actually for everyone except the very rich.  I definitely worry about justice right now.

  

Sherry: I agree. They distract us with some nonsense that keeps the media busy while in the background democracy is being dismantled, good things undone. Just days after the election, vitally important information representing years of study and compilation disappeared off websites. We don't even know what is being destroyed at agency levels.

I love so many of your recent poems. ("Weeks Go By", "We the People", "I Will Celebrate Today" – I especially love this one!) Would you like to choose a third poem and tell us about it?

I TRY

I try to smile more than frown
read books and take walks
visit current museum exhibits
enjoy menus of new restaurants.

I search out recent movies
take a country drive
check offerings on public television
ponder recipes in a new cookbook.

I try to think Easter lilies
jelly beans and chocolate bunnies
grass greening as robins chirp
as it should be the season of hope.

I try to appreciate each day
as if life was still normal.

Mary: I wrote this poem basically as advice to myself (and others).  Despite all, we do have to try to find things in our lives to enjoy.  We have to appreciate the good and also to try to bring happiness to others in our lives.  We have to find a way to put our concerns aside and find enjoyment in each day.  We have only one life.  We have only today.  We need to strive make our life and our day a good one.

Sherry: There is always much to enjoy and be grateful for, in our daily lives. Now, more than ever, we do need to appreciate them, and take what pleasure and comfort we can.

In closing, I would love to include your poem “My Song for Today”, which offers us a road-map through the evening news, when we put our faith in ourselves, the good things in our lives, and our God.

MY SONG FOR TODAY

When I had no happiness,
the sunrise was my joy.
When I had no time,
I threw away my watch.

When I had no friends,
I walked with my dogs.
When I had no sleep,
solitude was my rest.

When I had no youth
I conjured myself sage.
When I had no voice,
poetry gave me words.

When I had no love, my
granddaughter gave a hug.
When I had no dreams
I learned to enjoy the dark.

When I have no faith
I act as if I do.
When I have no peace
I rest in my God.

Mary: I was feeling at peace and in a positive place when I wrote this poem, Sherry.  It is one of my recent favorites too.  One I should remind myself to read each day.  Smiles.

Sherry: It warms my heart, Mary. And thank God for dogs! They're God's messengers, who teach us what unconditional love truly is.

Thank you, Mary, for this encouraging chat. I hope our readers feel as uplifted as I do, after reading it. And thank you for all you do, keeping Poets United serenely chugging along all these years. 

Well, friends? We hope you enjoyed this. Feel welcome to join the conversation in the comments. Do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!