week 181 ~ shred the social safety nets
shred the social safety nets
we cannot afford fairness
this is as good as it gets
for the future don’t make bets
poverty powerlessness
shred the social safety nets
any lingering regrets
are pointless though it’s a mess
this is as good as it gets
what ill mechanism lets
governments pleading blameless
shred the social safety nets
as the rich hide their assets
pretending with false distress
this is as good as it gets
and our silence aids abets
while willful lies egregious
shred the social safety nets
is this as good as it gets
inspired by a post from my friend Jamie’s blog, called “Mindful Steps to End Hunger“.
Reminded me of the lyric from Jesus Christ Superstar “Surely you’re not saying we have the resources to save the poor from their lot? There will be poor always, pathetically struggling, look at the good things you’ve got! “….Political world leaders seem to have their own version of these lines….you know the old “there are starving children in China…”
slpmartin
March 30, 2012 at 2:49 pm
hadn’t thought of that song in years. The more things change the more they stay the same, sadly.
mairmusic
March 30, 2012 at 3:14 pm
i so agree with you. in my country it has reached the proportion of ugliness.
Sharmishtha Basu
March 31, 2012 at 2:26 am
Inhumanity and vested self-interest are terrible oppressors.
mairmusic
March 31, 2012 at 7:44 am
what ill mechanism lets
governments pleading blameless
shred the social safety nets?…….absolutely……
Neva Flores (@Changefulstorm)
April 1, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I was inspired by Jamie’s post, truly. I went to your site and read, but it wouldn’t take my comment.
mairmusic
April 1, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Nice food for the picnic…
swanrose
April 1, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Fun to have a potluck (:
mairmusic
April 1, 2012 at 10:15 pm
very powerful…. what a perspective to come from. This was excellent… I loved the shred the social safety nets!!! (great line)
~L
~L
April 1, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Thanks! That line actually came from the original post– I was struck by it too.
mairmusic
April 1, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Marilynn. What a wonderful dear poem! It does go perfectly with Charles’ piece and we so appreciate it.
My son also thought ti was a perfect response, beautifully done.
It’s such a two-edged sword, isn’t it? We know on one side we really can resolve these issues. On the other we have to fire-up global will to do so. What a challenge.
May I post on “Into the Bardo” with al links and credits as appropriate? I’ll come back for your response.
Blog on … I do appreciate your poems and daily meditation.
Many blessings, Marilynn.
Jamie
Jamie Dedes
April 2, 2012 at 7:48 am
Thanks so much, Jamie, for your appreciation. Really it did just kindof leap out of me (in a villanelle no less) when I read the first line of it in your post. Of course you may re-post– it wouldn’t exist without you, my friend. Isn’t it just so cool how we all, as people who have never met, can inspire each other. For the record, this is the first time I have ever altered a repeated line in a formal structure, but the word reversal in the last line was so called for. Blessings back to you, for all you do.
mairmusic
April 2, 2012 at 9:00 am
It’s just as lovely reading and reading it over. Blessings.
It will post on Bardo at 12:01 a.m. on 4/5. Hugs! ;-)
Explorations in Sacred Space
April 3, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Thanks, Jamie!
mairmusic
April 5, 2012 at 7:42 am
[…] Marilynn Mair (Celebrating a Year) […]
SHRED THE SOCIAL SAFETY NETS | INTO THE BARDO
April 5, 2012 at 3:06 am
Interesting thoughts. Shredding the social safety nets would be beneficial in many cases, but not all. Governments have a knack for making a mess of almost everything they become involved with. If the government wants to help, it will generally do more harm than good and for every crumb it tosses, freedoms are lost.
Belva@MainelyMugUps
April 6, 2012 at 9:15 am
and an interesting comment, as that’s kindof the opposite of what I intended to say. We need safety nets, but I agree, how they are implemented often defeats the purpose.
mairmusic
April 6, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Hi, Marilynn! Mostly off-line right now, but wanted you to know you have two comments on your poem on “Bardo” … happy days. Hope all is well, dear friend.
Explorations in Sacred Space
April 10, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Thanks, Jamie! I’ll go look. Be well, and rest up– we await your return.
mairmusic
April 10, 2012 at 8:56 pm