Tag: current events

Yellow caution tape in close up crosses diagonally from lower left to upper right over a blurry dark background of rubble or asphalt
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Poem: Afterwords

mwinikates

They say poetry is a form of protest, and certainly it is good to feel like sometimes one’s words can pack a punch. I wrote this poem originally inspired by Rattle’s ekphrastic challenge for September of 2024, using this image by artist Barbara Gordon. I thought I was angry then, and I’m angrier now. So I’m sharing a poem, and asking you to contact the people who have power over the things you care about. Maybe that’s at the federal level, but maybe it’s your state or local government, your school committee, your library trustees. Make sure they know you’re paying attention.

Close-up photograph of caution tape over a dark background of asphalt, used under creative commons license. Photo by Tewy, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caution_Tape.jpg

Afterwords
by Meg Winikates, September 2024

CAUTION — DANGER — DO NOT CROSS —
Barricades and barrels,
flashing lights and flaring eyes.
They tried to lock us out.
They tried to box us in. 
But the people are the books
are the ideas are the will to be
free. 
And the library stayed open.
And the books flew off the shelves.
And the only words left 
unread
flutter yellow in the wind
like the cowardice
that strung them.

Caution.

Danger.

Do 
Not 
Cross
the librarians.

Updates

A Billion Brilliant Stars

mwinikates

The future looks really dark and uncertain right now. Yesterday I wept, today I’m in planning mode. And in case it helps any of you, here are some of my plans, to bring some light and carry it forward.

  • Read Good Books. For myself, and with my children, read the books that have the stories we need to hear that will buoy us up, enrich our compassion, and strengthen our wills. Not just the real-life stories, but the true ones too, with the characters who live in our hearts and hold our dreams when life looks bleak.
  • Keep home a haven. Play music, have spontaneous dance parties. Make art. Bake. Be silly. Start playing Christmas music early. Save politics for after the kids’ bedtimes. Use all the coping strategies we honed in lockdown to keep the weight of the world off little shoulders.
  • Pick up my flute and play. This was one of the only things that kept the panic attacks at bay during lockdown. Hoping it helps again.
  • Plant native plants and trees in my yard. Check in with my partner on our house improvement plans to take advantage of any green energy initiatives that are left unused as yet. Reinstall my rain barrels once spring returns.
  • Stay involved in my kids’ schools and the town committees and groups I’m part of. Make sure that I use my voice to speak up for the people who are going to need support.
  • Keep checking in on my friends and family.
  • Put myself on a strict social media diet. Scrolling and spiraling is not what any of us need right now, and as we all know, some sites are pretty much designed for doom. Check in, stay connected, but don’t drown.
  • Support independent news media like ProPublica, and keep supporting the public broadcasts like NPR, PBS, and my local stations. Stay informed, but take mental health breaks as needed.
  • Boycott Amazon. Shop local, support artists and small businesses, crowdfund cool stuff when I can. Things are going to get more expensive. Might as well put that money in my neighbors’ pockets instead of billionaires who don’t need it.
  • Keep writing. We all need stories, and if my words resonate with just one other person, then they are worth putting out into the world. There were a lot of people sharing poetry yesterday, for good reason.
  • Refuse to give up. Find the things I’m good at and care most about and protect them.
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Thoughts on Boston and Camp Nano update 2

mwinikates

Fun things first: I’m up over 25,500 words, so I’ve already surpassed the mark I hit in November’s Nanowrimo, which feels good, even if I remain behind par.  I’ve hit the point where the plot ratchets up a notch, hoping that my pacing has been working so far given that my main antagonist has been an invisible puppetmaster.  Pacing is always one of those things I know I need to pay attention to!

Sadly, this has not been such a great week for me, my loved ones, and my city.  Though nearly everyone I know came through Monday’s bombing essentially unscathed, not all did, and the constant strain of continual coverage and bad news has taken its toll even on those of us who were nowhere near the finish line.  I’ve been trying to process through painting and poetry, and positive thoughts.  Sadly, despite my best attempts, my words remain spiralling and frenetic.  Therefore, for lack of a poem of my own worthy of sharing at the moment, since it is National Poetry Month, a poem by one of my favorites that gave me some peace this morning:

Poem of the One World
by Mary Oliver

This morning
the beautiful white heron
was floating along above the water

and then into the sky of this
the one world
we all belong to

where everything
sooner or later
is part of everything else

which thought made me feel
for a little while
quite beautiful myself.