by Thomas Davis The virus raging as so many elders die and young people party, drinking into laugher, risking brains that swell with fevers, mini-strokes, hallucinations that skew apart their world; The economy collapsing into unemployment as bread lines form like they did in the Great Depression, hollow eyes looking at the world with despair even as social distancing, safety is an impossibility as you stand in line, hungry and afraid; The video of a black man saying, “I can’t breathe” twenty times as a white policeman kneels on his neck, hearing him calling for his mother out of his terror, exploding into a nation’s consciousness the history of white robes and hoods, the spasm of confederate statues trying desperately to rewrite the history of military and social loss, the Trail of Tears, a President throwing paper towels as Puerto Rico mourns destroyed homes, flooded lives, spirits concentrated by a hurricane to rows of graves; The teetering of democracy as black, brown, Asian, Native people stand in lines for hours to vote in rain storms, intense heat, cold as sanctimonious voices praise the Lord and American exceptionalism and celebrate cages on the border where children, separated forcibly from their parents, cry, and a flush-faced leader claims he is the One, the only one who can solve the problems he has helped intensify; Then the ecosystems’ warnings as Antarctica glaciers melt, song birds cease to sing, the Amazon Forest burns and shrinks from year to year, migrations from wars, starvation, ethnic rage, dictatorial triumph put words in politician’s mouths that celebrate how great their country, party is; and then the greed that celebrates the rich selling snake oil: Come, give us tax breaks, roads, communication networks, robots that feed our wealth-making machines — rescue us when our venality threatens our prosperity as the virus rages, the middle class collapses, small business people fail, poor families lose their homes, the homeless starve, mental health deteriorates, people march for justice, the great extinctions of insects, plants, fish, all living things grows ever more deadly to the long-term health of the world and humankind, and greed demands the glorification of greed as the solution to the problems greed creates. I name the crises. The question is, what do we, as human beings, do now?
I Name the Crises
Filed under poems, Poetry, Thomas Davis
fourwindowspress 
Good question that I hope could explored in a peaceful, empathetic and understanding way.
We need to find answers that are peaceful, empathetic, and understanding.
Reblogged this on Becoming is Superior to Being and commented:
Tom Davis has captured the essence of our current demise. Whether we are aware of it, we are on a “journey down a rabbit hole,” not whimsical but one that is new and unexplored. — kenne
Scary times, Kenne. Thanks for reblogging.
Truth-telling paints this wall of mourning. Can enough of us work for change and believe in a shining alternative?
I hope so, Skyislander. I really really hope so.
Me too.
“Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight,
For I confess I see no hope in sight.”
Ah, I hope there is hope, Ben Naga. I hope there is hope. You have a poetic spirit, though. Always.
Just because hope is not in sight does not mean it does not exist. Like hope what is most essential to life is not material.
We are a critical point. Election near, anger filled people. Time for the world to stop. Lead with concern, kindness and listen. Time to repair, fix and heal. Harder days are coming. I pray we are like my grandparent. Survived wars and the many depressions. If we lead with anger and violence. Our world will fall in madness. No-one will win. Powerful words shared.
Excellent thoughts, Johncoyote
Thank you Thomas.
Reblogged this on johncoyote and commented:
Powerful words and needed words shared.
A powerful summary of all that we’re facing, Thomas. Scary times indeed, and I’ve been asking myself that same question.
Never giving up hope though.. .
I haven’t give up hope either, Betty, but we also need to look at reality without blinking and come up with answers. I hope you guys are okay out in Washington.
I totally agree, Tom. There needs to be action. Hope alone is never enough. May you both take care and be well.