It's almost a New Year
again
Let's not make America fear
again
Let's not throw our brothers and sisters
to the wolves
again
We could make the world a better place
again
Are you ready?
We've done it before
in days of yore
We broke the bonds of
kings and queens
We threw off the shackles
of slavery
We stood up and demanded
One Person One Vote
Again and again
we demanded a minimum wage, a living wage (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage)
and the democratic world flourished...
But now it's dying,
strangled by the weeds
we were
so careless of.
So, I need to know - are you ready
to speak up
against those who would silence us?
Are you ready - to stand firm
against those who would
strip away your vote?
destroy your living wage?
poison your food and water, the very air you breathe?
and allow innocents to be destroyed -
- in the name of oil- in the name of money
- in the name of power
Are you ready to throw off the lies that mute us?
Are you ready to stand against the gags that deny us?
Are you ready to make this world a better place?
Can you accept the cost?
The longer we wait
the more we'll pay.
So I need to know,
are you ready?
A.J. Ponder
An early poem so it can be published before the New Year in time for resolutions. There will not be one on the 6th, because there's no reason not to make a New Years resolution to support human rights. Mine is to speak out when I see injustice, to hold our politicians to account and to join at least one local group that supports human rights and the environment.
Happy New Year everyone, also PS - a link to Mike Moore's 5 point plan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbaqst_B498 (it's basically all in first minute or so.)
A.J.
Showing posts with label New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Year. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Happy 2016 - time to break out the structured poems again?
The New Year is always time for resolutions, even when they're resolutions not to have any New Year resolutions.
I'm keen to keep up the blogging, but write fewer poems, while reintroducing a few more structured poems, especially poems around special events.
Maybe I'll even manage a New Year sonnet, or even maybe a Christmas one. There's something about the constraints on old fashioned poetry that, as a poet, I think are worthwhile pursuing. In the meantime, This Year of Fire, is as good a New Year poem as any, it's a near-traditional sonnet, although it's very dark. I admit, I really wasn't sure about it at first, but it's grown on me. And I think that's always a good sign with poetry - since it's considered a good sign for music and other art forms!!!
Anyway, Happy New Year everybody, best wishes to everyone who follows this blog, and a sad final farewell to 2015, and of course the Tuesday Poem, which was the impetus to me blogging most Tuesdays, although I do hope to keep that up in 2016 and beyond.
cheers to you, my readers, and to the New Year, may it be a good one.
A.J.
Author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files
I'm keen to keep up the blogging, but write fewer poems, while reintroducing a few more structured poems, especially poems around special events.
Maybe I'll even manage a New Year sonnet, or even maybe a Christmas one. There's something about the constraints on old fashioned poetry that, as a poet, I think are worthwhile pursuing. In the meantime, This Year of Fire, is as good a New Year poem as any, it's a near-traditional sonnet, although it's very dark. I admit, I really wasn't sure about it at first, but it's grown on me. And I think that's always a good sign with poetry - since it's considered a good sign for music and other art forms!!!
Anyway, Happy New Year everybody, best wishes to everyone who follows this blog, and a sad final farewell to 2015, and of course the Tuesday Poem, which was the impetus to me blogging most Tuesdays, although I do hope to keep that up in 2016 and beyond.
cheers to you, my readers, and to the New Year, may it be a good one.
A.J.
Author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files
Find my stories and support my writing on ko-fi And tell me which poems you'd like to see in my upcoming poetry book—2024
Friday, January 2, 2015
Ring in the New Year
Ring in the New Year with coffee, and resolutions to be lazy and get more done.
To that end I hope you enjoy my 22 Reasons Living in Wellington will Ruin Your Life
It's at http://wizardsguide.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/22-reasons-living-in-wellington-will-ruin-your-life/ and starts with: Because whatever the weather, or the disaster…blue skies are always just around the corner...
I hope you enjoy Wellington! And of course the amazing promise of a New Year :)
A.J.
To that end I hope you enjoy my 22 Reasons Living in Wellington will Ruin Your Life
It's at http://wizardsguide.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/22-reasons-living-in-wellington-will-ruin-your-life/ and starts with: Because whatever the weather, or the disaster…blue skies are always just around the corner...
I hope you enjoy Wellington! And of course the amazing promise of a New Year :)
A.J.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Happy New Year
Just a quick post to wish you all the best in the New Year. Here's to 2014. May it bring you health and happiness.
A quick recap of my highlights of 2013
Gino's make up demonstration at Rona Gallery. (Particularly important because I got paid for all the hard work inolved in the White Cloud Worlds Exhibition with Gino's amazing original digital print of "The Angelic Reaper")
What else?
First equal with Eileen Mueller in the Northwrite Collaboration competition with our short story and poem Ahi Kā. That was pretty exciting.
And of course the nominations for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for Wizard's Guide to Wellington and Dying for the Record.
So professionally it's been a great year, personally though it's been rather horrible, so all I can say is roll on 2014. With a new house (very soon), a new book (hopefully by the end of the year) and new energy, what can I say but hope to see you again on the 21st of Jan after the big move, and a special thanks to all my readers and everyone who has been so supportive, including Helen MCKinlay of gurglewords, Mary McCallum of O Audacious Book, Michelle Elvy of Glow Worm, and really, all the poets of the Tuesday Poetry Blog.
cheers :)
A quick recap of my highlights of 2013
Gino's make up demonstration at Rona Gallery. (Particularly important because I got paid for all the hard work inolved in the White Cloud Worlds Exhibition with Gino's amazing original digital print of "The Angelic Reaper")What else?
First equal with Eileen Mueller in the Northwrite Collaboration competition with our short story and poem Ahi Kā. That was pretty exciting.
And of course the nominations for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for Wizard's Guide to Wellington and Dying for the Record.
So professionally it's been a great year, personally though it's been rather horrible, so all I can say is roll on 2014. With a new house (very soon), a new book (hopefully by the end of the year) and new energy, what can I say but hope to see you again on the 21st of Jan after the big move, and a special thanks to all my readers and everyone who has been so supportive, including Helen MCKinlay of gurglewords, Mary McCallum of O Audacious Book, Michelle Elvy of Glow Worm, and really, all the poets of the Tuesday Poetry Blog.
cheers :)
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