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For the longest time, I referred to myself as a
non-joiner. I after all am a poet, a painter, one who speaks out through art.
However, in this age of Trump and the growth of fascism in America, I’ve
had to reassess this stance and have begun joining organizations including the
Sonoma County Democratic Club, Indivisible, and also others such as Swing Left
and Sister Districts for efforts beyond my own geographical area. Additionally, I have been making trips to
Congressman Mike Thompson’s office and have attended his recent town hall on
the ACA and healthcare in California. I
have learned quite a bit. I even attended
the Democratic Club’s recent fundraising Crab Feed along with 13 of my close
friends. Another group of 13 responded to our invitation and joined in a
brain-storming "Huddle" at our house.
For those of you
poets who may feel that such involvement is not for you, I suggest that you, as
have I, look into yourselves and ask “Is what I am doing by writing anti-Trump
poems (but see below for a bit of humor) and speaking out among kindred poetic spirits doing enough? Is it effective in reaching an extensive
audience? The title of this ten-plus
year old blog may contain a clue. While
most readers may agree that there is very little money in poetry, we should
realize that, beyond the purity and value of art for art’s sake, we may be
having little impact upon the broader population which must be reached to
effect social change.
I commend Bay Area poet Katherine Hastings (see below) for her material
involvement in political organizations working to influence congress. I use her as example here. I am certain that many other poets are
working through grass roots organizations and the Democratic Party to effect
change. We now realize that merely
writing and grousing is not going to get the job done.
Overhauling the words of Milton, “They really do not serve
who only stand and wait.”
- Ed Coletti 3-9-17
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****************************************************************
And now for a humorous interlude...
Does Donald Trump Have a Dog
Sam on my lap I scratch his ear
gaze
into his sadly happy eyes
wonder just what I’ve done
to
deserve
him he who can also be
the loud barking nuisance
startling the hell
out of me
who in Vietnam
daily heard both
loud
and more muffled blasts
constantly
reminding me
mortality expends its time
as explosion or
terrier barking.
So to the question
of whether or not
our self-centered president-elect
ever even pondered
the company of
a pup he would need to kibble-feed
I only can attempt
to imagine
the starved and wanting puppy
explosively
reminding The Donald
about food that one necessity
required and
craved, sustenance and
attention
withheld by
President-elect in
Scotland playing
golf texting Kelly Anne Conway,
"Is that
greedy little mutt still around?
Feed its ass and name it anything
except Ted or Jeb
Ben Mike or Marco
all losers
And give my dog
whatever
you name it
the blue ribbon
for terrificness
such a winner!
Huge!”
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***********************************
Ed Coletti and Katherine Hastings On
Poets and Political Activity
Since
the election of a reality television host to the “highest office in the land,”
surrounded by white supremacists and misogynists, a cacophony of conversations
have been taking place almost everywhere I turn. These conversations range from “How could
this have happened?” to “What can we do?”
From “This is what I’m doing” to “This is what I’m not doing.” Some people feel
all we can do is wait; others feel this is an excellent time to show, through
meaningful action, just how important combatting this administration is. Marchers have marched, ghost lights have been
lit, and poetry readings have been arranged around the theme of
resistance. It felt wonderful to participate
in all of these actions and more with like-minded people.
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This is a huge anthology featuring many of America's greatest poets. Press the link to see all of their names.
http://www.spuytenduyvil.net/resist-much-obey-little.html
Ed Coletti and Katherine Hastings On
Poets and Political Activity
Since
the election of a reality television host to the “highest office in the land,”
surrounded by white supremacists and misogynists, a cacophony of conversations
have been taking place almost everywhere I turn. These conversations range from “How could
this have happened?” to “What can we do?”
From “This is what I’m doing” to “This is what I’m not doing.” Some people feel
all we can do is wait; others feel this is an excellent time to show, through
meaningful action, just how important combatting this administration is. Marchers have marched, ghost lights have been
lit, and poetry readings have been arranged around the theme of
resistance. It felt wonderful to participate
in all of these actions and more with like-minded people.
What
am I doing personally? I could say I’m
staying focused on the issues at hand and doing at least one action every
single day. A handful of examples
include (1) signing on to swingleft.org to try to influence the outcome of the 2018
elections, rendering the current administration powerless in two years, (2)
joining other truly active organizations like Indivisible and the NAACP, (3)
sending financial support to organizations like the ACLU and Planned
Parenthood, among others and (4) calling a meeting in my home with immigrants
to go over in detail what their rights are if they are stopped by ICE or
police, or if they show up at their front doors. Where I can, I educate. “Yes,” I answered someone recently who asked
if it’s a bad thing that the government wants federal protections to revert to
state’s rights when it comes to LGBTQ people, “that’s a very bad thing.” For instance, no one should have to worry
about job transfers from one state to another because of who they love; we
should all have the same rights. “Civil
rights are human rights.”
This
forum could be an excellent place to tout what I’m doing. That is not my intention; I like to share
ideas for action in case any of them appeal to others. The truth of the matter
is, I’m finding activism a bit like grief itself. One day I wake up accepting the reality of
the mess and saying This is what I
can do! and do it. On another day I wake
up so depressed (anger turned inwards) about the latest situation — yet another
hard-working father ripped from his family, or another Jewish cemetery
desecrated, or another environmental protection flushed down the coal toilet — that I wonder if there is anything to be done
that can possibly bring enough change fast enough. Woe is me.
And then I remember it’s not about
me, and do whatever the best action of the day seems to be, measured by its
potential.
I ask myself time and time again
“What is the solution?”
I’ve learned to leave Facebook off
for the most part. “Liking” someone’s outrage is an inaction. I try not to judge people by what they’re doing
or not doing. (“Great minds discuss
ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” — Eleanor
Roosevelt) I often fail.
I give myself a break now and then.
This is going to be a long, difficult
fight that has been going on for some people in the country since the first Europeans
landed, since the first slave ship arrived.
I don’t want to burn out before my work is done.
Katherine
Hastings
February
27, 2017
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**********************
Dear Ashraf Fayadh,
Outside my window men speak
in a tongue I do not completely
understand. These are the men
who work the soil, the vineyards,
who pray to another god and the
god’s mother, who sing you are
never
alone. We are all orphans
searching for light, harmony lost
to the stark meaning of man-made
laws. In our hearts, the poem of
Love is perfected, is the most holy
relic of Time. Dear Ashraf Fayadh,
may you live happily among the
living, neither lashed nor
beheaded,
on little islands of wonder,
feeling
for all the gods what they are
incapable of feeling, each word,
each brush stroke, a golden bee
bathed in the breath of heaven.
— Katherine
Hastings from her collection
from Spuyten Duyvil NYC, 2016
Note: Ashraf Fayadh
is a Palestinian poet and artist living in Saudi Arabia who as sentenced to
death by beheading on a charge of apostasy, or renouncing Islam. After the sentencing, his father died of a
heart attack. Due to public pressure
(after this poem was written), the courts reduced his sentence from death to 8
years in prison and 800 lashes. Efforts
are ongoing to free him.
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http://www.spuytenduyvil.net/resist-much-obey-little.html
Comment or Read Comments Here on
any of the above or below. If you do not have a Google account, then log in by checking "Name/URL," (it's
easy). Just the name (don't worry about the URL). Actual name
is best, but use what you like. Or email me at edcoletti@sbcglobal.net, and I can post it.
__________________________________________________________________
Lindsay's Book
Poem by Michael Rothenberg
Art by James Spitzer
International poet-force Michael Rothenberg (publisher of Big Bridge www.bigbridge.org ) writes poignantly of his first great love and the searing loss of his lover to death in her young twenties.
The poem is set in Florida. California painter Jim Spitzer, collaborates with Rothenberg and provides startlingly spare images which must be seen. This beautiful little book packs a tender punch and must be read. You can purchase Lindsay's Book by sending a check made out to Michael Rothenberg at PO Box 2724, Tallahassee, FL 42304.
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