Greetings to all and Happy March! It's time again for the Inklings to respond to a challenge, this time from Margaret Simon: "Explore the use of anaphora in a poem, how the repetition of a line or phrase can add depth to the theme. For a mentor text, look at Jericho Brown’s poem “Crossing” ."
I went to Annapolis on Wednesday, to the State House in Maryland's capital where our General Assembly is meeting to consider and enact new legislation. I was there with a coalition of social justice groups from around the state to ask our representatives for their support of two bills related to clean energy for all, aka climate justice.
You can learn more here if you're interested, but in brief, the two bills call for a much more coordinated and climate-friendly system of incentives and means to move MD away from fossil fuel use in homes, INCLUDING in "affordable-housing" rental communities where low-income families live. Two of our small group were mothers who live in apartment buildings where the methane and nitrous dioxide leaking from their gas stoves and heating is 4 times higher than safe OUTDOOR levels. They don't have the power or the means to replace these dirty and inefficient appliances and systems, so their children have asthma and every now and then someone's apartment blows up. They presented their comments in Spanish (which takes some cojones) and two of the community organizers with us then translated. Here we are (and can I just wish you an honored Women's History Month?).
I got to thinking about legislative language and how we "resolve" things in our communal life, and I looked up the word "whereas". I LOVE IT that the first thing that popped up in my Ecosia search was A POEM by Layli Longsoldier, which you must go and read when you're done here.
Our host today is Tanita at {fiction, instead of lies} where the hope and anticipation and may I add RELIABILITY of a garden are reasons to get up and at it once again. Find the anaphora experiments of the other Inklings here:
Catherine @ Reading to the Core
Mary Lee Hahn @ A(nother) Year of Reading
Molly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort Zone
Linda Mitchell @ A Word Edgewise
Margaret Simon @ Reflections on the Teche
"If your liberation is bound up with mine" -- yes! Heidi, we have to talk. I'm reading a book about billionaire doomsday preppers and they DO NOT believe their liberation is bound to anyone. But we are a system -- with each other and with this planet.
ReplyDeleteThat is part of a quote that I should have attributed, that goes so: "If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." You can read about how the Murri (Maori) activist Lilla Watson popularized it at her Wikipedia page:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilla_Watson
ReplyDelete"...and every now and then someone's apartment blows up." Whew. Just gonna let that sit there.
ReplyDeleteI love how that reality is reflected within your poem, wherein you so beautifully deconstruct "whereas" and speak of both cooking beans and walking children to school in the same clear voice as you speak of a common liberation. Cousin, you have done a brilliant bit of writing here.
What Tanita said. Completely brilliant. I love all of the arcs that are woven in -- the latitude, longitude, and horizon of the planet; sunrise, (apparent) noon, nightfall. And this admonition: "then let us be here now." I can so hear your voice in all of this.
ReplyDeletePlus, good on you and your comrades for showing up and speaking truth at the General Assembly. Be glad you live in a state where government is proceeding in a democratic way.
Yes, to being resolved to all of this, Heidi. I am once again in awe of you. Your passion, curiosity, love of language, and sense of justice fill every line of this poem.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. Absolutely brilliant, Heidi. The repetition is solid...as solid as a legislative resolution and the poetic language that follows ties the real life and heart of it to our government which is the way it is supposed to be. Thank you for this poem and your heart.
ReplyDeleteHeidi, your beautiful anaphora "where, as" so much life and beauty unfolds in your poem, takes my breath away. Thank you for sharing, for going to the State House, for being part of a group of activists, and mostly for me, encouraging me to do more, myself. And Long Soldier's poem is amazing too. Wow.
ReplyDeleteEchoing others to say that is brilliant and powerful, Heidi.
ReplyDeleteI really love how you got your inspiration for this poem. Using that language is powerful!
ReplyDeleteI'm adding to the echoing appreciation for your powerful poem, Heidi. Add to that my admiration for your consistent voice and action. This poem has such a pulsing heart. Your language, as always, is rich and multi-faceted. I keep trying to pick a favorite line and then realize I would really have to copy the entire poem.
ReplyDeleteI hope you read your poem to the state house legislators!
ReplyDeleteDynamic poem Heidi, and I too hope your poem moves beyond your blog for more eyes. Thanks for your Friday activism and trying to make changes!
ReplyDeleteHeidi, you are a power house of words that matter. I slowly took in what you said and realize that the fight for social justice needs more voices, that a poetic voice like yours can take an idea and run with it. Thank you for sharing your deepest points,
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Heidi.
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