Another Year

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Another Year


Another year comes to an end, and I wonder how long I will continue to pen poetry.

I wonder how long I will think I have something to say, think my words matter.

I become more and more impatient with the trivial when immigrants are being deported.

I become more and more impatient with the trivial when polar bears are dying.

And those in power continue to subvert so much good that I had taken for granted.

And I keep waiting for a general outcry, for a scream heard across this nation.

I worry about the future of our planet, civilization, the world, our country.

Another year comes to an end, and I wonder how long I will continue to pen poetry.

I wonder how long I will think I have something to say, think my words matter.

I become more and more impatient with the trivial................

I wish I felt more optimism at the beginning of a new year.



For the last Poetry Pantry of the year.  I truly wish I could muster just a little bit of hope.

Not Too Late

From Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Not Too Late

This time of year
the darkest of days
memories and dreams
times of contemplation
not too late
meanings
look back look ahead

like
Ebenezer Scrooge who glimpses
ghosts of
Christmas past present future
reflects on his life
and

makes changes
not too late
because
today can transform future
and today is all
we are ever given

so while there is time
and while I still breathe
there is now and
I can act and hope
it is not too late
to make a difference.

This is for Poetry Pantry.
I wish each of you who celebrates a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Happy New Year.

Let Us Celebrate!

Let us Celebrate

Let us celebrate simply

with two candles burning

folded hands

upturned eyes

and a prayerful heart

Wishing you all joy and peace!

Sometimes simplicity is best!
Shared with Poets United
Midweek Motif - celebration

No Poem

No Poem

No poem is capable of making a miracle
no poem is capable of ending this plight
no poem is capable of taking away fear
no poem can help one sleep at night.

Love and death dance around
war becomes closer by the day
power is held by evil men
what can one do but march or pray.

We have to try another angle
but we question what that should be
when pedophiles run for office
and good men are forced to flee.

We weep like babes torn from a mother
we cry for all that is being lost
question what it means to be great
wring our hands at truth's high cost.

See how simple it becomes?
follow the man and click the boots
as doors close on starlings
and we watch steely-eyed salutes.

No poem is capable of making a miracle
so make love as if death is ruffling your sheets
lock just a bit of hope in your heart
don't believe what you read in the tweets.

This poem is written for Poetry Pantry.  For inspiration I used lines from the poem "Afterthought" by Tony Foley that Rosemary featured in Friday's I Wish I'd Written This.  The italicized lines are from that poem. The theme of my poem has nothing to do with the theme of Foley's poem.  If you haven't read it, please take a look at it as well.

We are Ready

We are Ready

We are ready to dance
not the slow cheek to cheek dance
not the sensual melodic tango
but the we-will-fight-through-the-night dance
the we-won't-ever-give-up (take that!) waltz
where we clench teeth and raise our arms
we shake fists in the face of injustice.

We are ready to dance
not the sumptuous sexy samba
not the kick the heels kind of jive
but the don't-you-dare-mess-with-me dance
you can't fool us with your lies
we put no stock in your twisted words
we shake fists in the face of injustice.

We are ready to dance
not the hate and-racial-discrimination dance
not the stomp-on-gay-and-immigrant-rights dance
but the fight-for-life-and-do-it-now dance
you can't trample the ones we love
we will rise again before too long
we shake fists in the face of injustice.

We are ready to dance!


This is written for Poets United Poetry Pantry.   The idea came to me after I read Rosemary's feature of the poem "We Have Come to Be Danced" this week.