Giving Space To The Inner Poet

  Thanksgiving is here, an escape provides A time with family, away from isolation, solitary confinement and distressing of thoughts Everywhere we turn the news is ugly The numbers are rising as the death toll is counted In thousands they say, as the systems in place So shaken and stretched as cries for help pandemic 2020 brought in its wake recession and depression Though 2019 to blame Suicides and deaths all time is high Greetings and hugging, conversation of catch up Turkey in season, table talks today Prayers we say for the few times we stay May our hearts rejoice in the midst of this turmoil Grateful for the lives we have and those we saved  Hard to smile when all the chatter is sadness and despair Elections came and went, confusion and chaos predicted but alas, not so much was realized Our souls delight and our hearts be glad  Birth of a new dawn A new year is promised Vaccines are here, almost in time  Next year is upon us, hopeful we remain In all things we give thanks as nothi

  The plinth, when all is lost The distinction between surviving and suicide in the mist of deep depression Endeavor and neglect Remaining vanquished or brushing off the dust of defeat What else can there be? A burgeoning nation in search  Pervasive feuds, sufferings endured When all seem worthless Living in hope Some dying in expectation as days run into weeks Weeks into months Months into years Outliving over decades, indignity tolerable The pilgrims of old Persevere the holocaust Though an end not sighted, in the smokescreen of life Trusting that someday, the tides will turn The dark gloomy clouds will lift Night will give way to day The sun emerging in its splendor as the dark sky recedes For in the absence of hope What will mankind have? Surely there should be something to live for To strive for To believe in To die for To stand for In the midst of turbulent cascading events  Hope is all

A fine morning in appearance Until the rain interrupted it rudely as it fell Lost control on the wet asphalt Skidding began, in earnest it spun Hit the median concrete Spun some more How many times is lost Time seemed to stop The beating heart The adrenaline of fear Life flashing before one's eyes The near death experience then the final smash as it came to a stop Never to move again  Neither forwards or backwards Engine revving, nothing happening The turmoil is over

It birthed a nation this day Freeing it from bondage, as it held its own bondsmen All men created equal under God, whilst slaves remained These brilliant men Bold proclamations they made  Fear for their act not lost A treasonous act perceived  A crown in dissent A sacrifice in the making Targets on their backs As in secret they met To draft a constitution to govern so fragile a union Assiduous they worked A new nation to create as one nation under God A nation of aliens Each their ideals they chart Visionaries they were As far ahead of their time united mainland they sought Some they seized from the natives that were, others they bought In the vision of one huge continent as one a nation Years later EU to note, but that ship already sailed A fragile unity it has Overtaken by a country so new by anyone’s standards Celebrate this day and its founding fathers append For this nation is the greatest on earth so far Created by the most brilliant minds of the time

You bid me to stay I was unsure Then you let my hand fall in sadness if not resignation I wanted to linger A change of mind, if not a change of heart Obligations beckons Your charm enchants Giggles so delightful it brightens the sky Oh my, indecision You ask me what Then I pause in thought I ask you why Now the pause is exchanged You turn to walk, I grab your hand....... Down the pier we trot in unison and tandem Oh what a night

The dreaded call came On a sunny friday afternoon When nothing could go wrong, it seemed Until the call came of course Rudely breaking up my daydream so sweet You lost the job it said Another couch potato joins the ranks Income loss bound Another casualty of young Covid Statistics I am as I join compatriots from different walks of life Another home hit by this pandemic so young Deaths and debt pile Evictions and foreclosures extend Furloughs are rising  Bankruptcies are stacking No good news in sight How do we go from here? Where are the jobs? Where are the funds This silence is ear-piercing The sky is falling!  The very earth is moving Who will be spared Who is next? Fear and trepidation Uncertainty of future How can he do this, only 19 of age So young is Covid