What will you do with your 67?

A year ago, I wrote a poem,

with our country on an edge

With rolling blackouts and unruly riots,

Could we ever push back from the ledge?

The Lockdown laws were heavy,

Vaccinations struggled to rise

As the smoke of the burning centers

Just fueled more tears in our eyes.

Shots were fired in Phoenix

Deadly looting went on for days

The police standing seemingly helpless

While our land was truly ablaze.

Now worldwide this feeling is spreading

The pitchforks are on a wild charge

And the challenges faced by our ‘leaders’

Well, let’s say they’re sure looming large.

Yet they wring their hands as they gather

In top places all over our Earth

And decide with their ill-informed power

On Women’s rights not to give birth?

With more shootings in schools and even in taverns

The blue lights falter and fiddle

How we place so much faith in ineptness

Remains an unsolvable riddle?

We say: “This must change. Vote them out.

Don’t give them another five years.”

Yet the promises wrapped up in Tee shirts

Are supposed to placate all our fears??

But, let’s pause for a moment. Take stock.

Reflect on our past and ponder

We’re still here on this planet of paradox

We still live in this world of wonder!

Yes, we’re back at stage six, with more strikes

With Winter nights cold, dark and long

We’re freewheeling each meter for the price of each litre

And our Rand isn’t looking so strong.

But if you’re reading this poem, you’re alive

And you probably own your own phone

Maybe get off depressing news feeds

And call to know one you love’s not alone?

For one thing you can change is “Now”

As small as that moment may feel

To walk or to pray, or to dance every day

Or just break bread in sharing a meal.

Greet the next person you see

And enjoy their broad smiles – unmasked!

And pick up that litter, or give blankets

From your heart and without being asked.

For it is these acts of service which save us

We’ve been on the brink before

And before we build higher fences

Let’s first knock on our own neighbour’s door.

As it is there where we find our belonging

We reweave our fabric of unity

And we’ll only survive in an uncertain future

If we live hand in hand in community.

We might not have much with all these price hikes

But surely we have our Humanity?

While our ‘leaders’ cause waves in our struggling oceans

Could we still build our ‘Islands of Sanity’??

So perhaps this is a call to action

From a feeling of hell to a brief glimpse of Heaven

And though one minute won’t change a government

What could I do with my Sixty-Seven??