It’s Poetry Friday and, like Carol, who is posting the weekly roundup today, one of my goals for the New Year is to participate more in this wonderful sharing of poetry. And I even sat down to write a poem for today’s post.
But my country is on fire. And, while I did manage to write some lines on this fact, and my feelings, they are not fit to share here because they offer no hope. The poem was part sorrow, part anger at the man elected to run this country and the big interests which have for too long denied that our climate is changing and that action needs to be taken. I wanted my poem to end on a note of postitivity because, believe it or not, I am able to see some positives. The voices being raised by every day people to say ‘enough’, the thousands of volunteers (and paid workers too) working to fight the fires, to try to keep people safe, to rescue animals, to put pressure on an inept Federal Government to do more, these are all positives. But when I tried to put that into a poem they sounded like platitudes – and we have heard too many of those.
So instead, my non-poetic post is to say that there will be poetry on this blog and in our future. Sad poems, angry poems, and happy poems too. Because we need creativity now more than ever.
From my safe spot on the west coast, I will continue to write, and to live , and even to find joy. I will do what I can, when I can, for those affected by the fire, and for the country I love which will be suffering for a long time. And I will put my anger to good use to join in the calls for change, in Australia and around the world. We need to start treating our earth as the fragile thing it has always been.
Here is to a 2020 filled with poetry and with positive action. You can start with more poetry by visiting Carol’s Corner for the roundup of links. The Maya Angelou poem Carol is sharing is really appropriate at the moment – and always.
Oh, in the midst of my need to share my worries, I almost forgot that I did take the time this week to think about goals/resolutions for 2020. I wanted to come up with one word for the year, but ended up with several.
, poetry quote
We are watching and praying. Sending love!
Reading your post I could only think of the president in my country who also is in climate change denial–somehow things are going to change, the young students across the world are doing a dynamic job of rallying our voices together and I’m more than ready to follow their lead. I’m also heart broken hearing about your fires and the loss of all the animals. Thanks for your positive goals/resolutions and your post Sally!
Sally, it is disheartening to hear about the horrible fires and devastation of animal lives in Australia. Climate change is real in your homeland and others should accept the reality and do something about this. The smoke is the areas affected must be horrible. Thanks for all that you doing to make the world aware.
I’m glad there will be poetry. Through all the hard times and anger and sadness, though we can’t solve every problem, poetry can help us bear it and help us express it. And, personally, I also think it’s okay to share poems that share how you REALLY feel, not how you wish you felt or how you want others to feel. I understand the desire to end with hope. I do, too. But know that this community can handle an occasional despairing poem, too. Hugs to you!
Oh, Sally, my thoughts have been with you and Kat and with all those who are dealing with this situation. What a tragedy and how horribly compounded it all is by stupidity, short-sightedness and greed.
Australia is in my heart, and I’m with you in anger at the politicians and big businesses who have refused (who continue to refuse) to respond to the calls from science and who bear the responsibility for the state our planet is in now.
Like several others, I have been watching the news from Australia with much, much sadness. And like several others, I love your line, “We need to start treating our earth as the fragile thing it has always been.” Such big truth. Wishing you peace and comfort and new joy as you read and write create in 2020!
Thank you Carol. I’m glad I participated in PF this week even though I struggled to do so. This tweet popped up in my feed today and says what I was trying to say so eloquently:
https://twitter.com/SamSykesSwears/status/1213166949871411200
“Sometimes creative endeavors in times of turmoil feel a bit like playing the spoons while a city burns. You don’t feel helpful and maybe kind of stupid, but god damn if art can move the hearts of humans, then you owe it to everyone to play the spoons until the fires die.”
I feel comforted today by my PF friends and by good conversations with those closer to home, and I feel resolve, too, to continue my creative endeavours.
I’ve been thinking about you and Kat, Sally. An article today said that over a billion animals had been killed by the fires. It’s unthinkable and heartbreaking.
Totally unthinkable, Laura. All those lives! And whole species will be threatened or eradicated in both the short term and, because of habitat loss, long term. It’s heartbreaking.
Well said, Sally. “We need to start treating our earth as the fragile thing it has always been.”
Been thinking of you all … my new year’s post talked about places to donate. Sending love and hopes for better leadership. xoxo
Thank you Tabatha and thanks for sharing the links. It’s important the rest of the world knows how bad these fires are and also sees how shockingly inadequate our government’s response has been. If our leaders won’t lead then the everyday people need to keep stepping up.
And love right back to you. I feel warmed by the responses to my post. xx
I too have been reading the news about your beloved country and am so sorry it has been such loss, for the people and animals, Sally. Our leader, too, is ignoring the science & all of us must rise up to say ‘enough’ of this ignorance. Thank you for struggling through to offer hope for our new year.
yes, Linda. It is time to say enough. Our ‘leaders’ are not entitled to use that term. They are driven by money and big business. We must speak up and we must not forget.
Sally, I’ve been watching the news with such sadness for your nation. The loss of animal and plant life just guts me. I’m so sorry for your loss, for Australia’s loss…for our global loss. I find the desire to remain positive in your words…”there will be poetry.”
There is a time for poetry. But now, it’s time to do what we can to put the fires out and keep them from re-occurring. Do you have any advice or requests from us outside of Australia for helping? You for sure have our prayers. But, is there something tangible we can do?
Thank you Linda, and thank you for wanting to help. Like you, I’m a long way from the worst of the fires (although there are several fires burning in my own state, too). How to help is difficult. There is an excellent post here with various suggestions: https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/bushfire-relief-how-you-can-help-those-in-need/news-story/a0476ac3538b8c373f281ea6be204421
I feel that donations directly to the firefighting organisations will help get to the point of really beginning the rebuild. But then again, apart from fighting fire there are people who need food, clothing, shelter, safety. And the many wildlife agencies and carers working to help injured and displaced animals.
I am also sending books to a school that has been destroyed. They have a call out through Facebook, which I am pasting here:
Attention ALL AUSTRALIAN AUTHORS and bookshop owners: here’s something we can do to help just one of the bushfire-affected communities.
Clifton Creek Primary School was burned to the ground on 31 December 2019. The community is located a short distance inland from Lakes Entrance in Victoria.
In conjunction with the business manager of the school and the Terry Floyd Foundation (that is gathering donations for the rebuild of the school), I’m co-ordinating a project to help repopulate their school library.
Here’s what you can do (up until Friday 14 February):
1. Do you have a NEW copy of your book (or books) you can donate to the school? Your book should be suitable for primary-aged children. It may be traditionally published or self-published (as long as it has an ISBN). Please do not send second-hand books.
2. Send the new copy of your book/s to the post office address below.
3. Feel free to write a note to the school and place it (loose) inside the front cover of the book.
4. After you’ve posted the book, please feel free to place a link to your book in the comments below.
5. All books will be forwarded in batches to the Terry Floyd Foundation to be made available as the school year begins.
6. Please share this post wherever you and other Australian authors mingle on Facebook.
Please send your books to:
Clifton Creek PS Book Drive
c/o Jackie Randall
PO Box 6430
Rouse Hill NSW 2155
I am guessing the specification for Australian authors isn’t because the books have to be ustralian, and assume they would welcome new books from further afield.
This is a small thing, but it’s something tangible for the rebuild.
The other thing everyone can do is to see Australia as a bit of a canary in the coal mine. What is happening here is a symbol of just how bad things can get if we don’t take climate change seriously. Australia has always had fires, but not of the size and scope of these ones. The changes to climate and the extent of drought leading up to this year have created these conditions. Climate change doesn’t start fires but it does make any fire that starts bigger and more catastrophic than we previously imagined.
Thank you again for wanting to help and for listening.
Sally
Just sent two books — thanks for the heads up!