Archives

Extraordinary times

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Sometimes you think you know the scale of a problem

That you can see the beginning, the middle and the end

And then you realize you had been too optimistic and underestimated  the problem

What were to be temporary changes will  last much longer

 

You realize that this problem is larger than life

That it has caused changes we could have never imagined

That we’re in this for the long haul

This is not a problem that can be wished away
Scores of scientists are doing their best

To find a solution to something they’ve never seen

But this work can’t be done quickly

 

The economy is in terrible shape

The stock markets have plummeted 

Unemployment is where it has never been

Schools are closed and so are businesses

And these are problems that are worldwide

Almost no country has remained unaffected

 

These are extraordinary times

The welfare of people should come first

The economy and the markets can’t be the priority

It’s time for compassion and care

 

May 6th, 2020

 

Vaccine

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The world is in the grips of a deadly virus

The evidences of which are clear for all to see

Every one is told to be careful

And follow instructions to stay safe from this virus, this disease

But what about the invisible virus of prejudice and greed?

Of injustice and materialism?

Who is looking at the ramifications of these?

Who is giving instructions for our safety?

We see the result of prejudice and greed

Why don’t we look for a vaccine?

We see what injustice and materialism have led to

Why don’t we try to prevent these?

The diseases of the body get a lot of attention

But not the diseases  of our soul and our spirit

March 5th, 2020

Today’s coffee shop

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Going places I’ve not been before

Asking for directions several times

Destination: pharmacy 

Waiting for opening hours at the coffee shop

 

A lively place

People starting their day

Antique objects everywhere 

An old cash register 

A dial phone 

An old red fridge

A scale from years ago

 

Checked brown and white tablecloths 

Patterned brown ad beige tiles on the ground

Red lipstick on my coffee cup

My phone by my side

My glass of water in front of me

Yellow artificial flowers in a small vase

Music in the background 

And me busy writing

 

Everything looks a little old

But full of character and history 

This is not a new cafe

It has been here for a while 

 

Two ladies walk by me

In headscarves and fancy suede shoes

A gentleman on his cellphone

People talking behind me

A European lady sitting across from me

Tomorrow I’m leaving this town

Bringing with me precious memories 

 

February 3rd, 2020

Grateful

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When bounties descend on me

My heart sings a joyous melody

When I’m surrounded by beauty 

My spirit soars

When I hear the melody of praise

My heart trembles

When emotions overwhelm me

The intensity burns

When life comes full circle 

I feel grateful

When love surrounds me 

What more can I ask?

 

February 2nd 2020

Hidden

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A layer of soft fresh snow covers the ground

The white snowflakes settle on tree branches and shrubs

The scene is dreamy and serene

But what is under the snow?

What has been covered up?

There are other things in life that have a pretty, shiny surfaces

But underneath them there are things that are not beautiful

Wealth and power and fame seem very desirable

But what is below the surface if we look carefully?

What is the cost of these coveted things?

Similarly people’s demure faces and carefully crafted words

With smiles that are not genuine

Can hide a dark reality they don’t want us to see

Their misdeeds are theirs to deal with

But let’s not be fooled by what they profess to be the truth
January 16th, 2020

Grief

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Lives lost

Games played

Risks taken

Show of force

Missiles fired

Human error

Devastation

 

Lives lost

Youthful lives taken away

Children’s lives stolen

Families mourn

 

A single red shoe

A reminder of the passengers onthe plane

The cockpit riddled with shrapnel pieces

Evidence of the missile fired

 

Countrymen on both sides of the Atlantic weep

They light candles

And talk about their friends and family

People who had plans for their lives

 

There is also anger

Anger at incompetence 

A few decisions

Having taken these innocent lives

 

Anger that we still use war

To problem solve

We play with people’s lives

As if they are dispensable 

 

Lives lost

Grief abounds

I don’t think time will heal these wounds

 

September 13th, 2020

Angel of hope

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Hope is an angel bathed in light

That comes to my dream at night

Hope is a single dandelion 

That has withstood the ravages of winter

Hope is in people coming together 

To mourn what has been lost 

Hope is in the light of the candles burning

Remembering those who are gone 

Hope is in the solidarity we feel

With each other no matter where we come from

Hope is in truth overcoming falsehood

In justice being served in due time

Hope is sometimes hard to find

It may be as rare as the dandelion on the path

But it’s there

Sometimes we need to search for it harder and longer

But it’s there

Hope never dies

 

January 11th, 2020

The greatest love

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How do you stop missing someone?

Why do our emotions have such a strong hold on us?

Why can the absence of a loved one reek such havoc on us?

Maybe because when we love, we create an attachment

Which is weak or strong based on the type of love

This attachment serves us well when we are with the one we love

But take them out of the equation

And then you don’t know what to do with that empty spot

It takes time to fill that spot with other loves

Like it took time to build the love we lost

And in the meantime, how do we deal with the hole That has been created?

How do we deal with the pain of absence?

Maybe it’s by attaching ourselves to a higher power

A love that supersedes all other love

A love that is the creator of other loves

A love that won’t abandon us

An intangible love

But a powerful one

That love can fill the hole faster than other loves

That love can help us heal

That love, one that we sometimes forget to call on

 

December 28th, 2019

Our lives

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We all have weaknesses

It’s good to acknowledge them

But then we need to move on

And do our best to be better

Our situation may not be 

What we want it to be

But since we are here

Let’s make the best of it

Our life may have unfolded 

A little differently than we thought

But we should not lose sight 

Of the blessings that have come our way

We might not live exactly where we want to live 

But we have to look for opportunities where we are

They say, seek and you shall find

Our reality is shaped by our thoughts 

Thoughts of thankfulness bring us joy

It’s easy to yearn for what we don’t have

But difficult to be content with what we have

Our happiness is based on our attitude 

Cherishing little things, 

And not taking what we have for granted

This life is our school 

Learning our lessons what we’re here to do

 

December 26th, 2019

Coloring our lives

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The things that give color to our lives

During gray days, are:

Friendship with people who lift us up and inspire us

People whose positive energy can be felt 

People who make us smile

 

Creating art

Getting lost in the act of creation

And forgetting all else

 

Listening to music which is

“The ladder of the soul”

 

Prayer and meditation 

Going to that unknowable place

We all come from

And basking in its light and warmth 

 

Being helpful to others 

Why is it that when we do that

We smile and feel joy in our hearts?

 

Spending time in nature

The vast creation that surrounds us

Marveling at its beauty and grandeur 

 

Traveling

Finding ourselves in new places

With new people 

Who may see things differently from us

Recalibrating how we see the world

 

I’m sure there are other things that

Color our lives

These are only a few that come to mind

 

December 7th, 2019