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Journalism, democracy’s Fourth Estate, a once cherished resource supplanted by corporate interests. Poets step in.
During the Port Townsend Writers Conference in July, I took three political poems and created a newspaper front page. Was a smidge difficult to photograph the Word document laid out as a newspaper, but I did my best! Here you go. Each poem is shared separately below.
Post Intelligencer
Views and Muse
EDITORIAL
I Dissent
Whatever you do, don’t ask again how Nazi Germany happened. How does any citizenry fray into death-camps with eyes closed? This is how a country loses its soul, democracy dies. The pursuit of power by a few, infects the minds of many. A well-designed plan unveiled by men in black robes upends the rule of law. This is how the con convinces the struggling to follow his lead, how minority rule silences expertise, education, exceptions. You witness how capitalism without a conscience exploits the powerless. How empowering fear blunts resistance. This is propaganda at work. There’s no debating a liar, no breaking through an echo chamber. The dead hold their breath wondering if we have courage – enough courage to rise up against hate this time.
As Maggie Smith reminds us …
" …because our Constitution does not shield a former President from answering for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent." Judge Sonia Sotomayor writes in her opinion.
A Bulwark Against Extremism
We, the people … Wear comfortable shoes. This will be a marathon. Your voice needed. Your vote’s important. Your love multiplied with 600% match. All welcome. … shall persist.
US Election News
Democracy Dying Slow Death - Family Members Suspected
Blunt force trauma to the soul, no signs of blood – unless you’re a bystander at police stops of young black men or grocery store mass shootings. The instrument – made of bump stocks, Oxy Contin, private jets, control over women’s bodies, fear of immigrants – flung hard by rich men with schemes and obsessions. A blow so targeted she stumbled – lost her way. Only a matter of time – the impact drips down into every bedroom. Naivete replaced by helplessness, voices muted, fear unleashing scattered minds like frenzied cats, cornered, claws poised. I’ll wait for the last vote to be counted that Tuesday in November, freedoms gasping, praying democracy doesn’t die in our arms.
Cat-5 winds of change overcome hate.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Love Rising: Cat-5 Winds of Change Predicted
Earthquake of concern threatens stability, waves of emotion crest leaving in their wake a crisis of possibility, radical creativity eliminates battle lines, risking everything when all is lost, community members gather – love rises. No other choice. Jumping at the chance to make a difference one person, one bit of pain relieved, one drop of love shared. The rest changes like the weather.
“Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.”
~Mahatma Gandhi
The freedom to choose is ours.
Your thoughts?
The creativity of your project and the effort for design is much appreciated. Reassuring words at time we all need them. Thank you.