Poetry For Now

FOCUS ON GOODNESS

September 24, 2020 Martin Strasmore Season 1 Episode 20
Poetry For Now
FOCUS ON GOODNESS
Show Notes Transcript

 It’s been over 6 months since the Pandemic has been acknowledged, and for many people life has become increasingly difficult.  Where you focus your mind creates emotions. Emotions move you to action. now is a good time to refocus, clarify your purpose, use all your talents and find more joy.  We hope this podcast helps you move along this path.  2 of the GOOD people featured in a poem are RBG and Mr. Rogers.  Poems are:  KARMA YOGA, GOODNESS & GOOD PEOPLE, TURTLE MOVING SERVICE!

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Episode 20  - FOCUS ON GOODNESS
 it’s been over 6 months since the Pandemic has been acknowledged, and for many people life has become increasingly difficult.  Where you focus your mind creates emotions. Emotions move you to action. now is a good time to refocus, clarify your purpose, use all your talents and find more joy.  We hope this podcast helps you move along this path.


KARMA YOGA

Always do your best

the universe does the rest

whatever happens will be

don’t hang on to see 

give more than you get

and your live will be set

focus on others’ needs

and water the seeds

then freedom and joy

are there for you

just like my friend

Winnie the Pooh 



GOODNESS AND GOOD PEOPLE

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) has passed on

And her greatness and goodness remain

Her brilliance and humanity lit her flame

championing equal rights, willing to dissent

she never baulked at being independent


Mister Rogers legacy lives on

demonstrating values of love and respect 

focusing on peoples greatness, no defect

he asked people the perfect question

giving complete one pointed attention

leaving us all with greater empathy 

and seeing the neighborhood with fresh eyes


Jane Fonda at 82 still askiing:

what can I do? and now finding

her path from climate despair to action.

as she did before

against the Vietnam war.

still inspiring me to do more.

Artists using their musical talents

uplift us during this difficult time

David Holt and Blue Grass

Joshua Bell and Chopin

The theatrical and musical creativity

of Riverdance 25 and Hamilton.

James Corbin for free wheeling

Car Karaoke with inspiring people.


The Venerable Tensin Pryadarshi

wrote 

 “Running Toward the Mystery”.

Makes me think of my own history

and feel grateful for the winding path

that led me to this moment in time.


For all these great people:

Brilliance had to be polished with

Vision, confidence and commitment

perseverance, ambition and aspiration.



TURTLE MOVING SERVICE

One day near New Canaan

I picked up a snapping turtle 

two feet wide and very heavy

ignorant to the danger

 of losing a finger.


Many years later in Florida

i watched helplessly the explosion

of shell shrapnel in slow motion

blown apart by speeding traffic.

Never again I said to myself 


Monday rain is drizzling down,

 I pass  turtle on the pond’s bank.

The one I carried here yesterday

He scoots down into the water

just as a pig frog jumps high.



Tuesday I see another one,

slowly crossing the road

its shell covered in slimy algae 

I pick it up gently carrying it

onto the grass

on other side.

Sliding down towards the stream

It gracefully swims away.


There is magic holding a wild animal.

That connection of trust and caring,

on the earth together we are sharing

a peaceful, quiet moment.


We have lazy lizards

statuesque herons

Moor hens and fluffy chicks

swallows in flying formations

Dragonfly squadrons

Alligators floating by.


 I prefer wild pets

they do not have to be in my will

like Max, the parrot.*


That turtle could live to be a hundred

Then I will leave before turtle.*

But I might need new batteries

for my pacemaker and the smoke alarm.

And all my other wild friends

Will be a new generation 


©MARTINSTRASMORE2020


*note: parrots can live in captivity to 70.  Some turtles and tortoises live up to 100 or more years.  The oldest known tortoise is 177 years old.


Thanks to Public radio and TV for inspiration  — PBS Passport opens the door to great programming, including Joshua Bell and David Holt sharing their musical journeys.  Another is American Poets, brilliant 30 minutes exploring the deeper meaning of selected poems.