In what I find as the most baffling, disappointing, sad, and outrageous time to live in this country, I decided to share a poem instead of my usual blog. The state of this country and the disastrous LA (my former home) fires have rendered me motionless and unmotivated. What I can manage is to share a poem I wrote after attending a 2-hour Ephrastic Poetry workshop held by poet lauret, David Starkey. Ekphrastic (Greek word) poetry is the practice of writing a poem based on a description of an art piece. The painting below was one of the paintings displayed in the workshop. What struck me about the painting was the sadness in the girl's eyes. She doesn't appear to be happy posing for the painter. There could be a whole other world going on in her head.
I have purchased gummies for the first time. Decades ago, I smoked pot like every other teenager in
Miami and living on the island of Key Biscayne where life was ideal beause of the beautiful,
tropical surroundings. It didn't take much to get me high. I wasn't one to overdo it. We did it for fun and would then go to the beach or sit around and laugh while eating snacks. Where I am in life now, is severe anxiety and depression. I'm finding it hard to cope seeing Donvict with a rap sheet coviction of fraud, rape, and felony wielding power that will be more destructive than we can imagine. So, gummies it is. That's the first step to avoid a labotomy. ;)
Be well and do all you can to take care of yourselves. Some, do better with what's at hand than others. As an activist and empath, I'm obviously in a different category. I do all I'm capable of doing to manage my days by tendimg to my patio and plants, sit with my hummingbirds, and snuggle with my therapy cat, Lucia. I go on my power walks by the sea and pray for rain. I continue my morning meditations, and meet friends for coffee or a meal. They all provide a reprieve but it would take a labotomy to be unaware of what this country has become. I had high hopes that Democracy, morals, and values would win in the end. I used to be such an idealist.
I hope you enjoy the poem titled Nina Bonita:
They asked me to stand still, quiet
The artist man said I must be delighted
Eyes say something else.
White Lilies hang limp in my hand,
Posing for a stranger in my best fire-orange frock-
A straw hat holding a scarf to match
Is about to set sail.
Spools of thread lay near my feet
After a quick hem just so
Hair is blunt and brown,
Fidgeting toes in boots dyed to coordinate
Perfectly.
The column behind me with a ball on top
Holds carved secrets.
The sky is too blue, the day hot
When
A white dove above faces the sea
Letting me know to shed my clothes
And run through soft sand on bare feet.
Keep on swimming through life.
Valerie Anne
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