Wear White

Wear White


Wear white when you march
for peace and unity
a march to reunite stolen children
make your voices strong

March through the streets
from Washington to LA
Minneapolis to Houston
make your voices strong

March with your feet
march with your pens
march with your shouts
make your voices strong

Wear white when you march
until families are reunited
then wear black for the country
that rips the children away.

This is more a non-poem than a poem, but it is
the best I can do today. Submitted to Poetry Pantry.

About 750 marches are taking place in this country today,
Marchers were encouraged to wear white, symbolizing
peace and unity.

Some of the Many Things You Missed

Some of the Many Things You Missed

There were so many things you missed
so many things that you don't know about
so many things that you didn't care about
you were so into yourself.

it is too late now and I have moved on
I don't even think about you often
I really don't care any more
you are no longer part of my life.

I can't help think you missed something
and that it was your choice and not mine
you may regret someday or maybe not
you are stubborn like that.

This poem was written for Poets United Poetry Pantry.
It was kind of inspired by the TITLE of Christine Lowther's
poem, the one Sherry shared for her post at I Wish I'd
Written This.

Normally

Normally


Normally
I would have nothing
to say about being human

But today
I cry about what my country
has become

A country
I used to proud to claim
and to love

But today
I am sad and angry
my god

Taking children
from their parents
who would do this

My country would
I shake my head
and I cry

Images of children
crying crying --
humanity?

May those who
harm these children
be remembered

May those who
remain silent
be remembered

May my country
be remembered
for having lost its soul

God help the children
God help us all
I implore.

Written for Poets United Midweek Motif - Human. I really am so down-hearted.  How can humans act like this!   I find it so hard...............

For I Will Consider My Dog Tulip

My dog Tulip at two years old

My dog Tulip today at 11 years old

For I Will Consider My Dog Tulip


For I will consider my dog Tulip

For she is a small dog with a big heart

For she has a bark that sounds ferocious

For if you know her she sits on your lap

For if you don't know her she might scare you away

For when she walks she walks fast and proudly

For when she eats she wants more than she can have

For when I thought she was sick my heart hurt

For when I found out she was well my heart leaped

For when I take a nap she naps with me

For when I rise she is ready to rise

For when the telephone rings she is expectant

For when I return she always wags her tail

For I love this dog as I have loved no other

For I know she will not live forever

For I hope we will meet again in the hereafter

Along with other dogs I know and have known

But not too soon.



Written and submitted to Poetry Pantry

I copied the style of the Mary Oliver poem 'For I Will Consider My Dog Percy' that Rosemary shared Friday for here "I Wish I'd Written This" series.  I have three dogs (all toy fox terriers) and love them all.  But Tulip is, for some reason, very special.  Hard to believe she is 11 years old.  I don't like to think about that. 

Rest in Peace, Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain

Rest in Peace, Anthony Bourdain

His sense of adventure
the way he talked with people
found out their stories
while sharing food and a beer

Always had a smile
a charismatic presence
when he entered the room
he just had that charm

One country after another
he shared a love of food
and an ability to connect
with all that he met

His journey is over now
no more Parts Unknown
so many mourn the loss
of his life way too soon.


I would often watch Anthony Bourdain's program Parts Unknown.  He always looked so happy.  I never would have guessed he would take his own life as he was beginning the filming of a new season of his show. 

Rest in peace, Anthony.  You will be missed by many who felt, by watching your show, that they knew you.

For the Young Who Want To....

For the Young Who Want To....


For the young who want to change the world
I say it has to start with you
in my day it was the youth on college campuses
but where are the demonstrations today?

It is your future so don't sit idly by
we all will march but we need you to lead us
you will be alive longer than we will be
what kind of world do you want for yourself?

We cannot continue to let them destroy our planet
we cannot let fascism take hold again
we cannot let them make shambles of law and order
we cannot them destroy all the good we had.

We cannot let them turn on all of our allies
we cannot let them embrace evil as friend
we cannot allow ourselves to become weary
but, young people, we depend on you.

I must admit I am disillusioned
day after day evil gains the upper hand
we need to march in the streets again
and, young people, it has to start with you.


I used the title of the Marge Piercy poem Rosemary featured this week - For the Young Who Want To  - as inspiration for the poem above.  I do think it has to start with the young.  I wonder why there are not more demonstrations on college campuses.  I wonder why there are not a lot of marches in the street.  I think, sadly, the reason might be that day after day there is one more evil thing happening; and after a while people become worn down.  But, we have to rise up, don't we?