I’m rarely the first
person to wail doom and gloom. In fact, I’m more of the sort who tries to find
something good in the worst of situations. But lately, I’ve had to get extra
creative in order to keep from screaming, “Why is everything so messed up!”
Seriously, have you read
the news lately? I had the awful luck of glimpsing the front page of a local
newspaper, and the headlines listed fires, storms, shootings, and deaths. All
of that was on one half of a page. I didn’t even open the thing. After that
glance, I just didn’t want the details.
End of rant. You
aren’t here to hear me ramble about the ominous times we are living in. But what
can I say? I’ve heard that troubled shared is troubled halved, and I’m feeling
a bit selfish—also, I would hate to miss the chance to know that I’m not alone
in wanting to scream.
All right, really
end of rant. Let’s open the Writers’ Pantry, instead. Link your poetry
or prose. Let your contributions be new or old, long or short, fiction or
nonfiction… The choice is always yours. Going for prose? Please, make the word
count 369 words or fewer. Mr. Linky will remain open for a week. So, we have
plenty of time to share our words and read what others have shared (and maybe, if we are very lucky, cheer each other up a bit).
Do you like to plan ahead? Me too. And Rommy knows this, so for our next Weekly Scribblings, she would like us to write poetry or prose inspired by the thought of “things meant only as a temporary or hidden support.”
I think it must be terribly low-brow of me, but I find I usually see the news on facebook first. Which is where I found out about the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. That's sad, and may well become ominous. Yet I feel deeply grateful that she lived and did so much good. She didn't do it in my country, nevertheless I think she did it for the world: one who pushed back the darkness, by lighting not one but several candles.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very somber night in our household when we heard the news. It was also the first night of Rosh Hashana, which felt extra weighty to my Jewish husband and children. Interestingly for me, my first reaction was anger, because I knew the moment she died, there were people moving quickly to undo her work (and the news proved me right). Then I felt determination to increase my efforts towards moving my country towards better things (hopefully) in November (if we all last that long).
Delete@Rosemary, low-brow to see the news on Facebook first? No. I think you are brave and tons of restraint. One of the reasons I've been away from Facebook for a while is that I just couldn't deal with the way information was shared--the good, the bad, and the horrible. Some individuals' reactions were just too much for my patience.
DeleteAnd about RBG, yes. In a world where so much is horrible, she was a gift that keeps on giving (courage and inspiration).
@Rommy, I completely understand. I, too, got angry at the hypocritical vultures. We need to make things better in November.
DeleteYes I sympathise with your wanting to scream...it's a terrible time for everyone but particularly for Americans. A complete overhaul of your governance is crucial ...very drastic changes need to be made starting with the gun lobby. Other countries have managed to outlaw gun use...you can too.Although with your existing legal structures it is going to be difficult. BUT if you can produce a citizen like RUTH whose death is mourned by women all over the world then YOU can achieve anything.The rest of us are watching and backing you to win.
ReplyDeleteI straight up envy countries that have gotten rid of guns and that have, for instance, sensible things like publicly founded health care. For a country that is supposed to be so developed, we can be rather backwards. Sigh.
DeleteThank you so much for those last words. You are so right. Just yesterday, my favorite librarian told me, "When all looks bleak, remember we birthed Ruth." I smiled then, too.
I'm struggling with all the bad news too, Magaly. I'm spending more time outdoors, well as much as I can, before the next lockdown, which is imminent. Then I'll have to watch the leaves turn from inside.
ReplyDeleteWhen the time comes, we shall watch the leaves (and snow) from inside. And we will write ourselves out in the woods.
DeleteHi there everyone,
ReplyDeleteTrust everyone is staying safe and are managing to find their way through the current crisis somehow … As Rosemary alludes to here, we certainly live in challenging times on so many fronts and even if one has managed to escape physically so far, it’s still taxes us us mentally and in our spirits too... Something we have to be aware of that and do our best to keep shining our light as best we can - not only for our own benefit to to help others through too…
So on that note… This week marks the release of my second unpublished poem since the recent runaway success of my latest published poetry collection Pranic Poetry, which was destined to be published at the beginning of Lockdown earlier in the year. It’s a more personal piece this time round. Hope you enjoy and really looking forward to catching up with everyone’s work today. Love to you all…
Indeed, Scott, our current situation seems to be attacking from all sides. May we find the energy to keep on shining.
DeleteCongratulations on our latest success and I wish you many more.
"I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the best of her ability"
ReplyDelete--Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Wishing all a happy Sunday
(✿◠‿◠)
much love...
Thanks, Gillena. We could all take that on, couldn't we?
Delete@Gillena, that is my one of my favorite quote by her. Thank you for sharing it here.
DeleteAs I interrupt my "hiatus" of sorts (I'm still far behind on what I'd rather be doing than my salary job) I will add this: We are a resilient people. We've survived wars, assassinations of our leaders, depressions, droughts and floods, along with hurricanes, earthquakes and fires that nearly wiped out entire cities. I could go on. My ancestors have survived religious persecutions and the Trail of Tears.
ReplyDeleteThere is good news in the world and a paradigm shift is growing. Cheers!
You are right, Joel. We have survived much. "This too shall pass."
DeleteThere's really not much good news going around lately.
ReplyDeletedig in, stay safe, everyone.
I want to say that you are wrong, but... lying is such a terrible habit.
DeleteStay safe, too, Lee San.
Apologies ...I am having problems with the mandatory new google blogger format. The old one was much better.I wonder what the motivation is behind something working satisfactorily and then changing it to something which is not as good and quite hopeless. It's not the sort of thing a poet would know but I bet someone does.
ReplyDeleteNo apologies needed. I'm struggling with the "improved" idiocy, too. I don't get it at all. Maybe one day they will explain the sense behind their meddling--or, perhaps, they just have a terrible sense of humor.
DeleteI have not had a computer now for over a year. I have been composing and posting using my Android Galaxy 8 smart phone bur that will not work with the new blogger machine.
ReplyDeleteMrs Jim has a newer Windows 10 computer but it was very hard composing and posting with MS Explorer which we always used.
Then since we had to use the new MS Edge on it to bring up Yahoo Mail I tried the new Blogger using Edge. It was easy and had options that Explorer did not even display. I composed and posted first time my Sunday Muse this week using Edge, it looks pretty good.
There are some kinky situations but all in all Edge is a winner.
I've been toying with resurecting my 2014 crashed laptop and making it into a google Chrome computer.
I would suspect that google Chrome probably works quite well with the new google Blogger. HAS ANYONE USED CHROME AND WANTS TO REPORT?
..
I use Chrome and Firefox, and they work just fine. Using the new Blogger dashboard is isn't difficult. I'm mostly complaining because I can't post clear pictures at the moment. I suspect that I will be able to, once I play with the HTML a bit. Fingers crossed.
DeleteI also use both Chrome and Firefox, on laptop and sometimes on iPad (and can on iPhone but usually prefer one of the other devices). I am not having too much trouble either, now that I've got used to it. One or two things are even better. (Some others are worse, but navigable.) Magaly, Robin posted a comment at my blog to say that the picture becomes clear if enlarged.
DeleteYes, Rosemary, the formerly blurry picture becomes clear when one clicks on it to enlarge it. Happily, we can make it clear by manipulating the HTML.
Delete