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Hope in Small Doses

Posted in poetry, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 8, 2023| Leave a Comment » 













“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” 
 Maya Angelou

Hope in Small Doses

The day’s news. 
The details of a bloody shooting 
rise with the same tone of voice 
a stranger would use to give directions 
to a local parking lot. Then a commercial appears
advising a product to prevent hair loss.
Compassion and energy 
struggle to appear in human form.

Then a toddler grandchild
reaches out with a smile made of fresh energy.
A closer place of love emerges.
And while I can’t make the world kinder,
I can begin by planting hope into this moment.





					
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Contrast, a Poem

					

					Posted in inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , ,  on December 30, 2022|
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“It is character that should be the sole measure of judgement in the society of thinking humanity, and nothing short of that would do.” 
― Abhijit Naskar, We Are All Black: A Treatise on Racism

CONTRAST

The news broadcasts the story in an infinite loop.
Nine people killed, one an unborn baby.
Boy or girl, identity as unknown
as the reason for the bullets that stopped them.
I listen to commentary
about hate and racism while a winter-pale 
goldfinch travels from tree to wire, 
a place where robins perch.  
The wire is long with plenty of room.

Perhaps, there is no genuine connection.
Only a brief metaphor. And yet 
I wonder if change can begin
with subtle movements toward peace.




bird illustration made from public domain photo, colored pencil, and chalk




					
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Woundedness and Light

					

					Posted in inspiration, tagged , , , , , ,  on January 14, 2021|
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The wound is the place where the Light enters you. (Rumi)




The mission. To fill aching cracks. In people with warring views. In the world. With glue that connects more than bones or moments. With one glue known as truth, another known as love.


Should be, words as vacant as a cup with no bottom. Who owns the should-be privilege? A limited few or a diverse population? A political circle or a world team? Violence at the Capitol Building in Washington DC. Because an angry mob wanted a different leader. How did it help? 


Destruction, obvious. Wounds, untouched, made deeper. 


Light. May it find a way to reach universal suffering.


 





					
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The Two Wolves, Light and Dark

					

					Posted in inspiration, positive thinking, tagged , , , ,  on October 29, 2020|
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An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.





“It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too.”





The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” (Cherokee legend)















This year has had nothing to do with twenty-twenty vision. Not yet. Perhaps recognizing dark and light within, can help root out the angry wolves inside me. May my flame be directed into light instead of uncontrolled, destructive fire. 








					
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Contrast: a Poem

					

					Posted in inspiration, positive thinking, tagged , , , , , , , , ,  on August 18, 2020|
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It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. (Confucius)


 


CONTRAST


The news broadcasts the story in an infinite loop.


Nine people killed, one an unborn baby.


Boy or girl, identity as unknown


as the reason for the bullets that stopped them.


I listen to commentary


about hate and racism while a wren


travels from tree to wire, the place where


larger birds claim territory.  


 


Perhaps, there is no genuine connection.


Only a brief metaphor. And yet 


I wonder if change can begin


with subtle movements.


 


first published in Piker Press


illustration made from recent colored penciled drawings

					
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