16 December 2024

Resilience

Poem to accompany gift of Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone

(spoken in triplets)


The powerful cease to defend themselves,

No longer claim "I'm not a crook!"

Making this moment an opportune time

To share the next cutting-edge book.


The author Joanna I'd heard of for years

But only just recently read.

Still active well into her 96th year,

She long has squeezed hope out of dread.


She identifies certain core issues

Other activists fail to explain,

With insights that pull back the curtain

On the scene of societal pain.


Perhaps it is not just me finding

The age-old balm of Christmas cheer

Can't bring the dependable comfort 

It did to my innocent years.


These authors believe our humanity

Will endure beyond corporate greed,

Even if all we build in this lifetime

Is a safe place to stockpile the seed.


May we strive to live as the ancestors

Our descendents will find cause to thank

For the courage and certain compassion,

We did not know we had in the bank.


And may each of our days bring new meaning

And a strangely incongruous peace,

With gratitude following grieving,

Seeing all of our heartbreak release.


—Jeffry 12/15/24

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