Words that were there, affixed
to a streetlamp or storefront window.
A public notice. Not a poem
with words as bold as Neruda, or as cynical
as Bukowski. Perhaps pro-Palestine proclamations,
explanation or justification of a conflict
on the other side of this world.
Political turmoil, opposing views attempting
to indemnify culture and common cause.
Inhumanity’s debate seeps further into our space
here in this country or city, then removed
Torn away from the realities we face.
We cannot understand the sentiment;
even a sentence. Nary a word is now
comprehendible, but it meant something
to someone. Defenseless. How can we
explain what was there when you, yourself, cannot
understand your own thoughts.
Yet you do know the need for expression,
communication, even protest.
We have all left words behind for somebody else
to read or relate to. Unappreciated offerings.
Like a poem, protest has
so many meanings and misunderstandings.
At times your vision is blurred. Your thoughts howl with the velocity of uncertainty. Sometimes the going gets tough, or you become stuck in traffic on the way to where you need to be. You stall, or may have to pull over and get your bearings, but you know, deep down, that you need to keep moving forward. Yes, the weather, your wisdom or wherewithal, may slow impair your efforts. A detour may send you off in the wrong direction, but you do have the capability of turning yourself around and getting back on track. You know how to do it, and may need to be reminded from time to time, but you will get there. Keep trying. You are not here to watch life pass you by. You are here to continue moving at the speed of life.
Each year I try to select a word or phrase to guide me through the coming weeks and months. Some years it is a quote from somebody or another that, for whatever reason, inspires me or causes me to think a little deeper. Other years it has been a single word. Whatever I decide upon, I will take those words and affix them to the first page in my dayplanner as a reminder, or prompt. I will look at those words often throughout the year. I had been wrestling with a few motivating words over the past week, trying to see what fits into my current state of mind. I’ve been restless lately, but in a content sort of way. At times, indecisive is not such a bad way to be, except when you are looking for a concrete direction. A few days ago, after flipping through notes, newspapers and assorted scraps, the headline of a magazine article captured my imagination; it spoke to me and all that I believe. Being Human. As a mantra or a mission statement, I can’t think of anything more important right now. Human: it is what I am. We all are. It is something worth aspiring to. Being human: it is something that should come naturally. Then again, a deeper question: How can I be a better human? Or, conversely, what defines a human? To be a human is to be an individual, but you learn or grow up knowing that all humans function better when not isolated. We need each other. Expand upon friendships you have earned over time, cherish them for what they are. Find ways to improve relationships that make you feel worthy, find worth in those friendships you have allowed to fall by the wayside. Reconnect, if possible. Couldn’t we all use more friends? Expect less of others, but demand more of yourself without getting caught up in the anxiety of it all. Follow through on promises you make, make less if you are not able to fulfill them, and appreciate any pledge offered or intended. Offer help when you feel it is needed, accept what is offered, and try not to overlook the efforts of others. Charity flows both ways. Be humble. Be mindful of the state of this planet. Recognize the aggressions many people face, but also realize that many of those battles are internal. You yourself seek balance in your own mental health. Show compassion, be less judgemental. Be more forceful with your intentions and recognize limits need not be boundaries but goals worth striving for. Don’t let life pass you by; participate in that which brings you joy and invite others along. Realize we all need company or consideration. Humanity cannot be forced, but it can be improved upon. Isn’t that something to work towards? Strive not to be something you are not but be all that you can. Being human is a good place to start.
“To be human means to care for one another.” -Pope Francis
Darkness not always geographically obvious,
although you can determine details.
Full Moon hangs a little closer,
its availability secure for a couple of days.
Appreciated.
A chimney gasps into a prairie chill,
time-honoured tall trees only a shadow, before
slight snow dusts rooftops like icing sugar.
Simple memories of childhood.
A landscape I once knew so well.
I have been here before.
Familiarity is quite apparent.
You cannot call it comfort, for that takes time;
more time than I have. For now.
Only the night knows where you have been.
Ever the night shows what you have known.
I felt I belonged, and I will return.
For longer.
