I’ve been pouring over poetry that I’ve written – all the way back to 2008. That is a lot of poetry. Some of it is funny. Others are painfully bad. Surprisingly some of it is really good. And then there is the weirdly prophetic stuff. The reason behind the retrospective is that I’m putting together a compilation for my mother. It is very difficult to select the poems that I like that I know she’ll like. Back in 2011-16 I wrote a couple poems that are a scary description of COVID-19 isolation. During a bad spot at work (2014) I wrote some things that are eerily pertinent today. In 2016 I wrote some politically inspired posts that are more true today than they were when I penned them. Funny how that works. Anyway I thought that for snicks and giggles I’d repost a poem (2016) that describes the atmosphere of pointing fingers instead of acting on the scientific evidence to mitigate the impending pandemic…
Happiness has gone missing
And we fear the worst
Gather the usual suspects
Interrogate them first
Check hands for bloody stains
Angels and devils alike
Confirm all friends and lovers
We need evidence to strike
Authority has red stained hands
From beet root it is claimed
Yet we believe it is a lie
When he swears he’s being framed
He tacks a list of alibis
To change the way we think
Happiness was found alive
But teetering on the brink
Authority escaped the noose
And believes we’ll soon forget
But happiness still bears the scars
And we remain upset
Cool project to do for your mother!
This poem certainly does seem relevant now. I wonder which event of 2016 it pertained to.
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I’ll have to go back in the archives to look it up… Seems it was a post about a senate hearing – Benghazi? Kind of beating a dead horse…
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Definitely relevant to today. What a nice thing to do for your mother. I once made up a special book of my poetry and gave it to my mother. I now have it back, since she has died. I hope she enjoys your poems Val
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I’m glad you were able to get back the poems. My mother has wanted a collection of my poetry for awhile… It is no small task to compile a collection. The timelessness of poems is that they can be viewed through the lens of current events and that changes the whole thing no matter what was in the poets mind when it was written!!
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Quite the project! I like the rhythm of this poem; and yes, it’s quite relevant!
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Thanks! Yes it is a big project. I’ve been working on it for a year (in earnest) and have spent more time during the quarantine sifting and picking and choosing.
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Wow you must of been watching campaigns. 🙂 Good luck on your project.
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Thanks Bonnie! I am working pretty diligently to get it together but it is turning into a bigger project than I imagined. I was watching the Benghazi hearings…
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It’s scary how you can write something back then and it be even more fitting today. Hope your having a wonderful week and have a wonderful holiday.
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Thanks! I have fun scheduled for this weekend and today is a baking day – making fruit pizza for a Friday get together. The power of poetry is that every reader filters the words through their own experiences, expectations and emotions. Poetry is in that way dynamic…
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Your welcome. We are going to the lake this weekend.
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Catch some fish for me (and fry them up and enjoy them for me…)! Happy 4th!
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Thanks. Hopefully we will get some keepers. Have a wonderful Fourth of July.
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Thanks 🙂
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Your welcome.
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About Trump? I’ve noticed that poems I wrote early on in his reign of terror are even more true now. It’s also weird how words can take on new meaning, bent into metaphor by time and circumstance. I like your project idea. At her request, I made a binder with all my blog posts for my sister. She loves that she can flip through it anytime, without needing to be on the Internet. 🙂
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I wrote several about tRump but I went back and I was watching the Benghazi hearings… anyway it has been scary how so many of the poems I wrote are still applicable today. I tried not to be very political but sometimes you just have to stand up and shout “The emperor has no clothes!” I was going to just collect some poems, then she wanted them to have an appendix with the different poetry forms. And some of them I’m wanting to add the context… I hope I can get it done!!
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I see where you get your keen organizational skills. Sounds like a big project, good luck.
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I’m sure I’ll be able to finish but it might get scaled back from the current 50 pages double sided…
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I gave up trying not to be “too political” when Trump “won” the presidency.
I lost only one FaceBook friend over it, and no one un-followed me on WP.
Here are two posts I published shortly after the inauguration in 2017: https://justjoan42.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/impeachment-rhymes-with-orange/ and https://justjoan42.wordpress.com/2017/02/19/more-aaacks-than-bill-the-cat/. I pray the first scenario does not repeat itself (deja vu, insert “Biden” in place of “Clinton”). The second is written in the voice of Trump as he tries to hypnotize the American sheeple. Both are strings of limericks, so the rhythm should be ingrained in your brain by the time you’re done. 🙂
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I’m going to go and read these gems! Just the titles make me smile!!
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It is not entirely surprising that the politics of the country have deteriorated since the last election (2016) — what is absolutely shocking, though, is the extent to which it has deteriorated!
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Yes we have been on a downward spiral for some time. It is like the penny that is released and spirals slowly in a large circle and then gains speed as it heads to the center hole… by the time it gets to the middle it is going very fast and there is no stopping it!
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Old Poems, Old shoes
Broke Lace, no tread, lost hues
No stride
they died
race, run, they lose
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Nice metaphor!
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It just goes to show you can judge a man by his poetry and that is a good thing!
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Hehe! I suppose you can…
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Whether you text
or tweet
Sometimes the world remains the same
the only thing which changes
is we both have two eyes
but our eyes see differently.
Whether we change
or recede
Like memories we fight
sometimes we must fight or lay witness to changes
such is the life.
and for us to move forward,
sometimes we breed distention, revolt, and disrespect.
we wait for independence day: July 4th to see new fireworks and hope
we remain intact.
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You should post this on your page! Perfect as we head to the 4th. BTW I fixed the typo. I’m hoping you will post more poetry since (I’m guessing) the semester is over and you have a few days breathing space.
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Meant to say world remains the same…fast poem, quick thoughts, fun.
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It is all about fun!!
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Whoaaaaa…you gave me goosebumps Val…really….!!! You made me wanna look back at my own writing too..nahhh maybe not as prophetic as yours. Buth they say life is mysterious and so is a poet’s pen.
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Thanks Mich!! I’m glad this gave you are thrill. I would have never imagined this was the case if I hadn’t gone back and reviewed past poetry!
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Our minds and our thougts are very powerful and i think yours is a manifestation of that..
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Thank you! Kate would say that what we think is often manifest in our lives. Makes a case for the power of positive thinking!
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‘Tis wonderful! in a scary way, but still. Well done.
That IS an interesting project thee has underway, for your lucky mother.
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I thought it was a little spooky that what I wrote then was so applicable to today! I’m working on it – interesting and tedious too…
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I printed and spiral bound all my poems for mother when I’d only written a few hundred, great keepers for me now she’s passed aas I wouldn’t have bothered otherwise 🙂 So well worth the effort I assure you!
you have insight and that’s reflected in your ability to see forthcoming obstacles …
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Thanks for the pep talk. It is a labor of love for sure! I’m not what it is – second sight? Intuition? Maybe I’m just vague enough that it all applies?? hehe! I try not to take some things too seriously.
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you’re fine and you will get there … not only will your mother be greatly appreciative but it will stand you in good stead to have some filed/ organised 🙂
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Oh I’ve got them organized – just not in any form ready for publication… Most of my poems are by date instead of topic. Probably not the best filing system to be able to retrieve them quickly.
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topic or type might be a lot easier … date only is totally confusing!
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True. I just wish I’d had been a little more thoughtful when I started but it was only a couple poems that has turned into years and years worth!
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your collection is well worth the effort so please get it done 🙂
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I’m working on it. So much to shuffle through!
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Loved your poem! I’m kinda new to all this and looking for writers who like to rhyme. Wish me luck!
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Hi David! Welcome to my little corner of WP. There are lots of writers and poets here. Some rhyme and some don’t and some only rhyme some of the time. You’ve made the first step – commenting. To gain friends and followers you will need to interact with others via comments on their posts. Good luck.
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Thanks for the tip.
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You are welcome!
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I love finding bad poetry I wrote in the past….helps me see my growth. I look forward to reading more from you! Keep growing ❤️
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Thanks for the visit! We either grow or die – that is the basis of life… As for the poetry, I’m a notoriously bad judge of my own stuff. The ones that I like and think are so good don’t impress and the pieces that I’m embarrassed because they are (in my mind) horrible seem to be the ones everyone loves…
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Yes! I feel and understand this deeply!
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It is the curse of the creative perfectionist!
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🙂
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I can’t believe you ever wrote a bad poem. Even when you first started on xanga, you made my head spin with the intelligent words and thoughts that you poured out. Heh!
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You make me blush! Thanks for your glowing praise!! I am not (and I don’t think I’ll ever be) a good judge of my own work. That is why this project of compiling poems for my mother is so difficult! I need an impartial editor.
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I don’t think any injustice should be let slide-no matter who the perpetrator is.
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Very true! I only wish justice was a tad bit swifter!
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