Saving the World, One Poem at a Time
I just wrote a post that left me in tears. How could I publish something so ranty, so raw and so potentially argument provoking? I hit save, closed my laptop, and walked away to have my cry out.
Here I am again.
I’m very upset over not just the government shutdown and the lives in turmoil because of it, but over the reactions of people I know. I have never seen such vitriol, such a lack of compassion.
It gets to me.
But after a good cry and a good think, I decided that the world doesn’t need another rant from someone who has been hurt by what’s going on in Washington and how it trickles down to folks in the neighborhood. There are already plenty of rants on the Internet. Mine would get lost in the white noise, causing strife for the few who read this blog.
I’m not interested in creating strife right now, just to prove a point.
Instead, I’m choosing to contribute something positive.
I’ve been participating in OctPoWriMo, writing a poem for every day of October. Actually, I’ve been doing this since August. No, I haven’t been posting the poems on my blog – something about it felt wrong when I went to hit “publish” on the first, and I had to follow my instinct. But I have a journal full of poems, some good, some so awful they should be used as kindling.
In the spirit of contributing something beautiful to the world, I’m sharing one of them.
CHANCE
A breeze
can caress
with refreshment
a soothing kind of
sorcery whispering
of lands uncharted and fresh
horizons. Or unbid’n,
it may melt, or freeze
depending on
nothing much
at all
I also want to leave you with this admonition:
Don’t make the world uglier just to prove a point. Instead, maybe focus on helping out. If you know someone who has been furloughed or lost a job, assist them with the groceries or make them a meal. Babysit for someone who has lost their local childcare program. If I can help someone in some sort of material way, please let me know in the comments or send me an email. I may not have a lot to give, but I will help in any way I can.
Let’s treat each other with kindness and compassion. We’re in this together.
– – –
39 Comments
mike
very nice post and thoughts. I avoid the news feeds and a lot of facebook posts because I grow tired of the constant attacks and fighting. You made a good choice for a post.
mike recently posted…Hanging out (those things could kill someone)
Natalie DeYoung
Thanks. I should do a better job of avoiding it…
Linda Roy
YES! This so needed to be said. The last time we saw this kind of vitriol was during the election, but then, you’re right – I don’t think it was quite like this. Every time I see something divide this country further it’s so sad and discouraging. Here we have this amazing president and everything he’s trying to do is darkened by political in fighting. And I loved your poem. Especially the last lines – “…nothing much at all…” Yes. Sometimes the stress of it all calls for a good cry and just to “write it out”. I hope you feel better. This post made me feel better. And glad you’re doing OctPoWriMo.
Linda Roy recently posted…OctPoWriMo: Day 4 – What?!
Natalie DeYoung
I know! I thought nothing could be worse than the election, but I was wrong. Sigh. I thought we at least had a four-year break from it all…
And thanks. I love the creativity writing a poem a day fosters…
Chris plumb
Thanks Natalie. My Facebook feed is filled with nego-politico-ignoramusness right now, and poetry is about as far away from that sad reality as there is, so thanks. Your poem reminds me of every night I’ve spent walking the Oregon beaches…a chilly air that is so fresh and therapeutic it can take your breath away.
Chris plumb recently posted…A Woman’s Success is Not Simply a Spoil of the “Gender War.”
Natalie DeYoung
I love Oregon beaches…the epitome of refreshing grandeur.
I was trying to think of what I could contribute, and sadly, a poem was the best I could come up with.
zoe
beautiful on all fronts, Natalie…have faith, people with sanity and kindness will prevail.
Natalie DeYoung
*fingers crossed*
chamanasgar
It is such a wonderful thought.Yes we don’t need any more negativity,we have to be positive.Thank you for your poem.
Natalie DeYoung
I agree. All the negativity drags me down.
Kristin
Very human — and compassionate. It’s so important for those with extra doses of empathy to be able to take deep breaths and focus and then keep on. Think of the quotation from Mr. Rogers that always comes out when a terrible tragedy occurs: “Look for the helpers.” It really does work! There is more good in the world than bad. There is more compassion than vitriol. It’s just that the constancy of good is often lost in the furor of nasty. Many virtual hugs.
Kristin recently posted…Raising Voices: Gun Violence Prevention Edition
Natalie DeYoung
I agree, and try to “look for the helpers,” but I need a reminder every so often. Thank you, Kristin.
From Novels to Board Books
I love your poem. It reminds me of Robert Frost’s poetry. Keep writing poetry!
I, too, am sick by the miasma of vitriol. Even when my toddler throws a tantrum, I’m convinced his behavior is more mature than some members of Congress. I’m leaving for Ireland today, and I know I’ll get lots of questions about this shutdown. I need to formulate a pithy response.
Natalie DeYoung
Thank you! That’s quite a compliment.
And yes, I’m sure your toddler is more mature than congress.
On a happier note, HAVE FUN IN IRELAND! I WANT TO GO! 🙂
Daniel Nest
Great post. Internet makes it so damn easy for us to rant and spread negativity. Positive posts are much more difficult to come by.
Same goes for offline world too, obviously. Let’s spread some good vibes for a change!
Daniel Nest recently posted…Two eighty-six
Natalie DeYoung
Exactly! I think people feel more freedom to be nasty when they aren’t looking people in the eye…
Tomekha
I agree. Well said. The change we wish to see starts with us…’s best to do something about it rather than bitch and complain.
Natalie DeYoung
Yes, I kept coming back to that – what am I doing to create positive change?
Marcy
It is a tough time to try to get along with everyone. I’ve been avoiding political conversations because no one’s mind is ever changed, and everyone just gets upset. I hate the idiotic Facebook rants and have to avoid hearing the opinions of acquaintances for a while. The election was the same way for me.
Marcy recently posted…Laughter Yoga, or Laughing When There’s No Joke
Natalie DeYoung
I know. No one ever had an ideological shift during a Facebook war…
LaTonya
Natalie, I hear you, but, a if you’re rant is a desire, a call for compassion and charity, I encourage you to share it. It’s easier not to stir the pot, but what has most stirred you to make a change? I’ll bet part of it was not feeling comfortable, being provoked or outraged.
I’m oblivious to the mindless, viral, narcissistic ranting that’s popular of FB. But that isn’t you nor your space here. Those who love and respect you, you can do that even if they disagree with you.
I’m coming late to the party and this time, I skipped the comments before sharing my own because what I hear is a woman who is saying she thinks something is terribly wrong and to that I believe in speaking Truth to madness.
Be well.
LaTonya recently posted…Reading is Fundamental
Natalie DeYoung
Thanks for the encouragement. I saved the piece, in case I end up wanting to post it anyway. There is definitely a time for speaking out, but I didn’t want to jump the gun on this one…
LaTonya
Ack, gurl needs an edit button. Hope you feel better.
LaTonya recently posted…Reading is Fundamental
Punky Coletta
My parents helped hubby and I buy groceries for years while he was out of work. He applied for at least hundreds of jobs during that time(we stopped counting after hundreds and I wonder if it went into the thousands?) and even McDonald’s wouldn’t hire him. Last week he got two job offers after looking for four years (he had sporadic seasonal work in that time). The day he came home with the second offer, my brother-in-law got laid off.
My parents’ material help was very difficult to accept, but we did, and because of that, we didn’t have to do things like end up starving or homeless.
My husband and I are both very hard workers and incredibly frugal people, and unemployment and financial hardship still happened to us, yet people were very judgmental and sometimes said horrible things about our situation.
I will be forever grateful for my parents’ help.
Punky Coletta recently posted…Sorry if this is too gross to share.
Natalie DeYoung
I know how you feel. It’s so hard to accept help, especially when there’s so much shame involved. But I don’t think many understand what it’s like to fall on hard times and need help. It’s humbling, and I didn’t want to have to ask, but that safety net saves lives and prevents homelessness. We need to be kinder and more generous to each other.
Michelle Longo
I love the idea of a poem a day. It’s been a long time since I’ve written any poetry.
And I love that you’re offering up something helpful here. There has been too much ugly on the internet and in the world lately.
Michelle Longo recently posted…Wellness Wednesday Week 8
Natalie DeYoung
Let me tell you, a poem a day does wonders for creativity. 🙂
Tamara T.
Very lovely! And I agree, there is plenty of ugly in the world. No need to contribute to it! As for the shutdown, I love your suggestions of helping. We (as a society) are so self involved that we have lost sight of the simple joys of helping our neighbors. Of giving our time and energy out of love and friendship. Maybe it’s time we start changing that mindset. 🙂
Tamara T. recently posted…What is Faith?
Natalie DeYoung
I know. I hate the selfish Darwinian attitude of culture today. I’m working on me, because that’s where change starts, right? 🙂
Jack
A poem a day is a wonderful thing. I don’t know if I could write a poem a day, but I can write daily and sometimes I do because silly stuff makes me smile and there are never enough of those.
Jack recently posted…5000 Reasons Not To Do Laundry
Natalie DeYoung
Writing daily is so valuable. Poetry is just one way to do it… 😉 You’re right, there’s never enough of those.
Ilene
This is such a gorgeous post – in so many ways – including but not limited to your poem. There is enough ranting and WAY more negativity than any of us need. I agree. Instead of contributing to it, I think we should all raise our hand like you did and offer to help. Well stated, my friend.
Ilene recently posted…Good Stuff
Natalie DeYoung
Thank you, Ilene. Sometimes I just need a break from the negativity.
Samantha Brinn Merel
The headline on cnn.com this morning was “Who will blink first?: Boehner: No cuts, no debt deal.” And when I read that my first reaction was to get furious and take to my blog with a rant about how they are both acting like petulant toddlers throwing a fit because their didn’t get their way. But then cooler heads prevailed. And, like you, I didn’t want to write just another hate filled diatribe on how mad I am and how ridiculous this whole thing is.
I love that Kristin mentioned the Mr. Rogers quote “look for the helpers”, because that what I was thinking about when I read this post. If we all helped a little more, and fought a little bit less, maybe we would be able to find a path through all of the divisive madness.
Samantha Brinn Merel recently posted…26.2: May 4, 2014
Natalie DeYoung
I know. I needed to step back and look for the helpers. Though sometimes I wonder if maybe my rant might help…lol.
Kristi Campbell
I love this. Thank you for the reminder about treating one another with kindness and compassion. My husband works for the government and has been deemed as “essential” which means he’s worked until 2am too many nights and both weekends (both days) for the past 2 weeks. He doesn’t know when he’ll be paid. My neighbors are both at home because they, too work for the government (we live in DC area). He’s fighting cancer and just hopes his insurance isn’t messed up. Thanks for the poem tonight. I needed it.
Kristi Campbell recently posted…Bad mommy moments
Natalie DeYoung
Hoping good things for you all and an end to this shutdown!!!
Transaction 33 975 US dollars. GЕТ => https://telegra.ph/BTC-Transaction--721850-03-14?hs=ca9b54c5209646a187d2ad3aa256a198&
hsd9jd
Transaction 57 057 Dollars. GЕТ =>> https://telegra.ph/BTC-Transaction--193760-03-14?hs=ca9b54c5209646a187d2ad3aa256a198&
i5afxb