October 2019

Writing falls down the hill of priorities.

Life, Write, Life

Family, jobs, house, pets
Sleep, read … write
And hope that life somehow works out
If not for life and all its business
There’d be more time to write
No doubt
But, if not for life and all its business
There be nothing much to write about
Right, life?
Right

When I start something, I like to finish. Articles, plays, musicals, poems, love letters to myself… can take forever. So, to satiate cravings, I pop Fifties: 50 word pieces; short sweet and (sometimes) easy to complete.

Quick Fixes

It’s nice to write
But writing takes time, which is tight
So, rarely does paper meet pen
That’s the reason
That’s the rhyme
In my mind, at least
I write all the time
Sometimes, to get my kicks
A fix
A hit of Bliss
I’ll do a 50
Like this

I love to write about things I love.

Love

I’m in love again
For the very first time
We’re a perfect poem of rhythm and rhyme
Walking on sunshine and feeling nothing but fine
I’m completely enraptured; my spirit’s been captured
Who’s stolen my heart, like a thieving thug?
Not a woman this time, but my new dog, Doug

Doug is ten, now, and we love him more than ever.

I wrote an homage to dandelions, thinking they were innocuous, little miracles, subjected to gratuitous poisoning and character smears. Then, my friend, Mr. Trott, told me they’re an invasive species. I’ve been thinking about it, for a year, and I stand by my Fifty.

Weeds

Dandy lions are the pride of the pride
Dandelions, however, we cannot abide
Why? Mother Earth cried, horrified, mortified
Each beautiful, edible prize should be glorified
Not denied, vilified and plied with pesticide
Dandelions provide fresh, free fare, far and wide
Rather than genocide
Why not love what I provide?

Sometimes, I write about justice, equity… Other than make me feel better, it doesn’t do much.

Keyboard Hero

I ensure the poor overcome their plight
I find the blind and give them sight
I take wrongs and make them right
I challenge evil and win the fight
I help the one who gave us light
I save the day every night
I’m a one-man army when I write

I’ve written Fifties about my mighty girls, naturally. I wanted each piece to look like the tip of a mighty sword or a mightier pen.

Dear Erin

Be the best you can be
Look beyond what you can see
Remember, the truth will set you free
If necessary, go for an eye, nuts, or knee
Look up to the sky, splash in the sea
Smell the flowers, hug a tree
I love the girl you call me

Dear Claire

Be nice, sit up straight
Stay outside, play until late
Don’t be afraid of love or of hate
Celebrate, create, date, debate, fascinate
If required: deflate, berate, annihilate, obliterate
Shoot real straight, pull your own weight
Turn off the lights, lock up the gate
You my girl are truly great

Fearlessness is a quality I admire. I like bees, as well, so they got a Fifty.

Why Try?

Bee! Why are you trying to fly?
Your wings are too tiny for flight, I’m afraid
Came the cry
Are you talking to me?
I ain’t afraid
Said the bee
And he took to the sky
Boy, could she fly
Now, the bee feeds the world
That’s why
You try

I have a friend, who writes, but is afraid to share her work because of, “What people might say.” She’s not the one who should be afraid.

Critical Karma

What you fail to comprehend
My conspicuously critical friend
Certainly, victory is sweet
But so is defeat
At least we’re trying
Dying on our feet
You lack the courage to go deep
A shallow grave ye shall reap
And you’ll never ever rest in peace
Never know an artist’s sleep

Perseverance is another quality I admire.

Easy Steps To Success

Get back in the saddle
Reload and re-aim
Return to the battle
Get back in the game
Have another crack
Take another swing
Try a new tack
Climb back in the ring
Quick, quick, lickety split
Get back on your feet
Don’t think of retreat
And never, ever, ever quit

I got into regenerative writing for about 50 seconds. It was ridiculous, but I got a 50 out of it.

Regenerative Writing And A Great Blind Date

If you’re writing to regenerate
Recall the evening you tempted fate
And with eyes wide open and back real straight
You bravely embarked upon yet another blind date
Although it was something you expected to hate
To your delight it was wonderfully great
Now write to create a similar state

I’ve always been hyper. To me, it’s normal, but…

If I Were A Boy Today

Experts would say, He’s ADD, OCD, ADHD
He’s a monkey in a tree
He’s destined for a killing spree
Look, he can’t sit still
Prescribe another pill
There’s something in there we must kill
There’d be white collar thugs
Preaching kisses, prescribing hugs
And pushing piles of white collar drugs

Who doesn’t love sports? Kyle Lowry, Bobby Ryan and Josh Donaldson were on highlight clips, recently. All had poor father figures, but have turned out well, breaking a cycle.

Kyle Lowry, Bobby Ryan, Josh Donaldson, Woody Harrelson…

The apple falls close to the tree, it’s true
But, sometimes, as falling apples do
They hit a bump or rock
Then roll
As if on a stroll
To the edge of a knoll
Then spill down the hill
And come to rest
At a place where trees grow best

Life has one rule; it’s two words, but I used 50 to explain it.

Be Good

Be good at night
Be good all day
Be good at work
Be good at play
Be good when they’re watching
Be good when they’re not
Be good while doing
Be good when you plot
Simply too simple to be misunderstood
Two little words:
Be good, be good, be good

In a recent conversation with a colleague, we agreed, Toronto is losing its allure, for one reason.

Dear Neighbour

I’m afraid you’re stuck
Lanes and lanes of cars and trucks
Parked on highways and byways
Holy moly
Hog Town is snarled, snarling, crawling, stopped, blocked
Thoroughfares are parking lots
From sunup to slumber
Toronto is bumper and bumper
Subways, buses, LRTs
Tolls, taxes, HOVs…
Toronto, fix your transit
Please!

Or don’t. I prefer walking The Bruce Trail, through Hamilton, anyway.

Sunlight’s shining between trees
Or casting shadows on fallen leaves
I see and hear beautiful birds
While in my head, I play with words
Sometimes, it feels a little queer
As if my God is very near
Little else is quite as good
As being alone out in the wood

Henry David Thoreau made a good point about the pursuit of happiness, so I wrote a pointed Fifty about it.

Thoreau’s Point

If you desire a natural high
A springy step and twinkling eye
Stop chasing a pie that is up in the sky
Stop dreaming of things you’d like to buy
Take your device and wish it goodbye
It may not be easy, but give it a try
Simplify, simplify, simplify

Indeed, less is more.

Pruning

Prune your plants and they’ll grow well
Prune your urges to kiss or tell
Prune your friends if you’ve got too many
Prune your rude if you haven’t any
Prune your appetites for things and food
Prune your desires whatever the mood
Prune to be stronger
Prune to live longer

I misplace my wallet, keys, glasses, phone, mind…regularly.

Technically, Not A Handicap

Already late, but still scuttling around
Looking for something, which can’t be found
Help!
Where did it go?
It was just here ten seconds ago
Mother has it and gave it to me
It runs, alas, in the family
Things, of course, could be worse
But absentmindedness is a curse

Pessimistically, I’m hopeful.

I Hope

I hope I live for another day
I hope my girls are always OK
I hope I’ve something worthy to say
I hope the world sees things my way
Someday
I hope I’ll hope until my dying day
I hope, I really hope, I hope I don’t hope life away

I know what I like.

I Like

I like coffee and herbal teas
I like toast with stinky old cheese
I like parks with beautiful trees
I like birds, I like bees
I like mountains, I like plains
I like sunshine, when it rains
Cars are fine, but I like trains
I like people with kindly brains

I like to rhyme, too. It started early. As a wee one, my mother read me Dr. Seuss and I can’t enough.

An Addiction?

I’m in too deep, I suppose
I very rarely think in prose
I’m addicted to rhyme and rhyme all the time
Every word heard
Claims my brain
Here we go again
Perhaps not an addiction
More an affliction
Or peculiar condition
Regardless, it’s free, it’s fun
And hurts no one

That’s all, for now. I’ve got a million things to do. Right, life?

Right.

Today Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving, and those of us living abroad are planning our turkey dinners. It is a day to think about what we have to be thankful for.

I am thankful to be living in Barbados.

Living here I am constantly reminded of the similarities and differences between our countries. While we both started with British rule, the history of slavery is much different.

In Barbados, wealthy landholders wanted obedient slaves. They used religion to teach conformity and servitude. As a result, ingenuity and open dialogue were shunned. Education provided by the church guaranteed that those who conformed were rewarded, and those who didn’t were shunned.

In comparison Canada was the place known as the last stop in the underground railroad. In 1825 with the population in Upper Canada just under 160,000, the influx of 40,000 freedom seekers who wanted to make Canada their home had a big impact.

Courageous people who came to Canada through the underground railroad influenced the way we thought about equality, freedom and minorities.

As a result, Canada has a history of protecting and defending human rights through open dialogue.

Canadian John Peters Humphrey was the principal author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and prepared the first preliminary draft of it. It established that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” and that “rights are not conferred by government; they are the birthright of all people.” No matter what the country, or cultural beliefs, human rights must first.

Courageous outspoken people in Canada willing to stand up for minority groups changed not only the laws but the hearts and minds of people in communities across Canada. As a result, there are millions of LGBT citizens able to live freely and participate fully in the political, economic, and social lives of their communities.

In Barbados this is sadly not the case. Open discussion of ideas isn’t common. Instead word travels through whispers.

People are unwilling to stand up for minorities, and the LGBT community is constantly discriminated against.

But there are many Canadians living in Barbados with a humble desire to contribute to the community. Some of us descended from a courageous stock of people who fought for freedom. For us, contributing means sharing ideas and pushing for progress.

When it comes to human rights, progress starts with an honest and open discussion.

The rights of the LGBT community in Barbados are ignored by people who cite religious or cultural values to justify their discrimination. Similar to justifications given for violent practices towards women, like genital mutilation, which was believed to be sanctioned by God. Today, because individuals stood up for human rights, these practices are unacceptable.

Criminalizing the status of LGBT people, and expelling them from schools, is completely unacceptable.

The immigration policy in Barbados is responsible for limiting the islands ability to attract community builders. It was set up to attract the wealthy. Updates to the policy were designed to attract large corporations (that mostly wanted to avoid paying taxes) not entrepreneurs.

In Canada the immigration policy was designed to attract ingenuity. Our “start-up” residency program targets entrepreneurs to the country by offering residency status. This allows them to work in their business without having to get a work permit. They end up bringing all their wealth into the country. And they contribute significantly to their community.

Here in Barbados wealthy opportunists attracted by low taxes have contributed little to the island. One built a school for his children, but turned it into a business willing to discriminate against any kid who threatens their profits.

The progress here in Barbados is driven mostly by local residents and a small group of caring immigrants. But they are up against opportunists willing to use cultural intolerance as an excuse to ignore human rights and protect their profit.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful to be a Canadian living in Barbados. I am thankful for the friends I have made. They are very smart and courageous Barbadians trying to build culture and a progressive community.

Life, Write, Life in 50s

Thanksgiving in Barbados

Courageous people who came to Canada through the underground railroad influenced the way we thought about equality, freedom and minorities.

When it comes to human rights, progress starts with an honest and open discussion.

Criminalizing the status of LGBT people, and expelling them from schools, is completely unacceptable.