Poetry Corner: A Cure for Troubled Times

POETRY CORNER

– 2/15/17

Hosted by Kathabela Wilson

Our poets today have much in common as we all do right now, confronting our troubled times. We look for cures, for what we can do to make our world better. Here are admirable and inspiring approaches. These poets reach out especially on the web to as many who will feel the depth and power of the poetic and artistic approach.

~ Kathabela

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Roses (Photo – Kathabela Wilson).

Gary Blankenship

day by day
evil enters our world unbidden
my small cure
roses borrowed stolen
for your pleasure happiness

Poet and editor​​ Gary Blankenship lives in Bremerton, Washington. Each day he posts on Facebook an inspiring rose photo gathered from friends and the web, with his good morning peaceful wishes. A published author of several books, he is especially inspired by Walt Whitman and Chinese Tang poet Wang Wei, and he has written and published new series of poems inspired by each, as a way of finding a cure for the world’s ills and inspiring others.

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Sunrise (Photo – Michael Czarnecki).

Michael Czarnecki

each morning
whether cloudy or clear
whether I see it or not
sun rises, as it always has

some touchstones eternal
though we so often forget

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last summer
drought conditions

here on Wheeler Hill
plants grew stunted
tree leaves shriveled

September, rains came
garden revived
autumn colors spectacular

what is, isn’t always
what will be

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I read poems of old Chinese poets
Su Tung-Po, Li Bai, T’ao Ch’ien, Du Fu
think of their troubled times
rebellions, banishments
political intrigue

their poems have endured
beyond a thousand years
that awareness
brings comfort here
in our troubled times

Michael Czarnecki says: “In these troubled times I find my poetry and photography are groundings that keep me connected with the eternal truths. My old political activism has been rekindled, but this time also knowing that writing, reading, and publishing poetry can also be a political act, even if not overtly so.” Michael posts a singular inspiring photo and a poem from his travels and adventures each day on Facebook as his own diary and inspiration for all. He’s an editor and publisher of Foothill Publishing, and lives on a 50 acre homestead on Wheeler Hill, New York, and supports himself by giving readings and workshops as he travels invited by libraries, bookshops and galleries all over the US.

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♣ We welcome and encourage your response especially in the form of short poems. You may reply by leaving a comment below.