For my last prompt at Toads, I wanted to share some
positive words from Joanna Macy, deep ecologist and activist, who has devoted
her life to working for climate justice, and to awakening us to what is
happening to the world around us. My distress over collapsing ecosystems has
led me to seek out sources of strength and positivity, to help shore us up
for the challenges ahead.
Joanna states, "Yes, it looks bleak. But you are still alive now....with all the others, in this present moment. And because the truth is speaking in the work, it unlocks the heart...It's like a trumpet call to a great adventure. In all great adventures there comes a time when the little band of heroes feels totally outnumbered and bleak, like Frodo in Lord of the Rings or Pilgrim in Pilgrim's Progress. You learn to say 'It looks bleak. Big deal, it looks bleak.'"
While I feel too anxious about the state of things to view this as an adventure, exactly, I admire that she is trying to prepare us for what comes next, much as a mother zebra finch sings to her unborn chick inside its egg.
Scientists
have observed that this song, unlike the bird's other songs, is
preparing her chick for the world she will encounter outside the egg. Chicks
sung to in this way emerge smaller than usual, thus are better able to
withstand a warming environment.
It is amazing to me that animals are adapting
their behaviour to climate change, insofar as they are able, yet we humans
remain stubbornly resistant and in denial.
For my last challenge in this Imaginary Garden, let
us contemplate these topics.
You might write about staying strong in a
distressing world, how you dig deep for hope in the face of collapsing ecosystems and accelerating extinctions. You might
write about raising our inner Kali, the Dark Mother, with strength to oppose the forces of greed, patriarchy, oppression and destruction.
You could write about preparing ourselves for “what
comes next”. Or you might be that small bird mother, singing a song of hope and
resiliency to her chick.
I read that we were
chosen to be on the planet at this time, that we have the stamina to rise to the
challenge (though what I feel these days is bone-deep battle fatigue). I see great hope in the young rainbow warriors arising across the world to fight for their future.
As usual, I am not strict. Whatever arises in you
from reading these words will be perfect.
I have loved writing in this Garden with you,
friends. You have helped my poetry – and my person – grow, and I will be
forever grateful.
Let us keep on writing, whatever comes next. I pray
it is widespread change of political will, wherein lies our best hope for a viable
future.
27 comments:
Hello, poetry pals. I hope you all had happy holidays, whatever tradition you celebrate. For my last prompt, the climate crisis is on my mind, but I am reading messages of hope also. I think Mother Earth needs our hope and strong voices. On the 30th, Play It Again will post and, on the 31st, Kerry, Marian and I will share a look back at Toads through the years. What a journey it has been, beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you to each one of you who have swum this pond and made our lives richer with your words.
This is a huge moment for me, Sherry! Filled with both joy and the sadness one always feels when things come to an end. These cyclic changes are all party of our progression but ever so hard to let go of that which has sustained us for so long.
Thank you for always drawing our attention to the bigger picture and raising awareness of crucial social issues facing us in this century and, no doubt, will impact the future. And thank you for being a Toad, through thick and thin. I am so grateful for your guidance and unquestionable support from beginning to end of this particular cycle of our lives.
Kerry, you gave the great gift of nearly ten years of your time, energy, talent and vision, in the support and love of poetry. Thank you is not enough words. Toads has always been unique. I will miss it. But we will keep listening for each other's "ribbets" around the globe, in the new year and beyond.
Sherry, thank you for all of the prompts that you have given and the way you have always shined a light on the important issues. Though I will not be sharing a poem, the prompt certainly is an inspiring and appropriate one considering the state of the world.
Kerry, thank you as well for all that you have done for the poetry community! And for your creative presence in the poetry blogosphere. Blessings to you on your journey as you see what comes next for you!
I've chosen to go back to the past for this one, Sherry, to an old prophecy that warns us of what we may become, but which I also hope we can avert if we listen to both old and new voices of truth. Thanks for all you've done over the years for all of us here at the best prompt site that ever was, but especially for the friendship and support you have always given me.
You know the only way I write about topical stuff like this is to do it satirically or ironically, so that;s what I did.
Thanks a million, Sherry, for everything you have done here and on other sites for the past decade. None of it would have been the same without your warmth and caring, both for the poems and the poets.
Sherry, you are the steady one, you have helped me in so many rocky moments with your resolve. I so appreciate you!!
It's hard for me to write on this topic but am ruminating and am determined to participate over the weekend. Love, love xoxox to you and all my Toads!!
Thank you, friends, for being who you are. Marian, when I think of your talented kids, I know we have to press for legislated change - for their sake. Until there is legislation around carbon emissions, for starters, not enough will get done.
I would like to write to this. However, due to the sudden death of my husband, I am trying to stay calm during a time of personal crisis. Nothing lasts forever except love. Thank you for your caring for all of us. Bless you.
What a wonderful post! Thank you Sherry, for always getting to the heart of things, and always speaking both lovingly and courageously.
Last night I finished preparing my first Friday post for Poets United next year (which won't appear until the 10th) – and this morning I come here to find you have written much in the same vein, only stronger, deeper and more pointed. I'll be adding a bit to my post, to send its readers back here to this one of yours if they haven't seen it already by then.
Wether I'll write for this one I don't yet know, as I'm away from home and busy with many reunions. But the weekend is early yet....
Many thanks to you too, Kerry, for this wonderful site which will be so greatly missed. I'm very glad it is going to remain as an archive, which will surely be invaluable.
Rosemary, thanks for your kind words. And Toni, thank you for stopping by in the middle of your heartbreaking loss. We are thinking of you. Take good care of yourself.
Thank you for this prompt. Gave me a chance to go back and use unused material from previous things I've written about global warming.
I'm so glad, RedCat!
Sherry, please keep up working for your necessary cause. I will be missing you and that cause here. Sorry now that we didn't do our talk.
..
BTW, still on my Sabatical but will try to return all comments.
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Jim, i will still be around and writing about Mother Earth. Smiles. Looking forward to a poetic 2020. Hopefully poetic justice and a change of those in power.
PS I just read the Joanna Macy article. Most fascinating, and strangely heartening.
Yes, I was relieved to read a hopeful message from her, which made it possible for me to write a more positive poem than I otherwise might have. LOL.
Your last prompt with Toads, but not your last prompt or poem on the world wide web, Sherry. We will read and comment on each other's words again, weaving hope for the future!
I apologize for my late response to comments and poems. It was a weekend of moving house for my daughter. I do appreciate all the positive comments on my poem. Now i am catching up on my reading.
Thanks again to Sherry for her open-ended challenge.
Sherry,
Thank you SO much for this amazing post. I have resurrected an old poem in response to your challenge. I apologize for my late contribution but it took me a while to compose something suitable. Thanks for your past support and I know everyone here will miss you.
Thank you, friends, for your wonderful responses to this challenge, in poems and in caring for our beleagured earth and its creatures. We shall see the new year in with hope and strength, and keep writing our way through.
Wow, this was really difficult for me, but I managed to scrape a few hopeful words together for you, Sherry. Love and gratitude!!!
xoxoxo Marian
It is hard to muster hopeful words these days, I know. I struggle to do so myself. Thanks for your poem. My greatest hope lies in the young people rising up. They havent sold their souls for money, and their eyesight is 20/20.
Of interest is the news that Brendan will soon launch a website where we can write to the state of the world and the environmental crisis. This interests me greatly. Stay tuned.
Well dang it....I just realized the Toads in general are leaving us. This is the best prompt site and though I haven't been a frequent visitor, when I put on my blogging hat this is where I come. Sad face on this rainy miserable day, so thanks for the hopeful news on a new site from Brendan. Don't leave me in the cold!
Poems from Brendan and Rosemary have just about leveled me.
I'll be curled up in the corner for a while.
I know, it is a hard topic to face as the year ends and a new one begins.........but as it was my last prompt, I thought I would go with the topic most on my mind. Let's hope for a better and more hopeful 2020, kids.
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