A slow bleed Free Verse

A slow bleed ~ Free Verse

a slow bleed…

at first the world was shocked
like being on a ship, discovering a leak
but then there were too many …

like a kitchen fire
putting out the flames
until it spread too far…

winter, spring…
the world looked in shock
watching overseas
knowing what was to come

so many deaths
so many losses
too many mourners
robbed of saying, ‘goodbye’

and then summer arrived…

leaks seemed under control
fire was a constant simmer
‘Summertime’ in the air

most humans still followed rules
…except
those wrapped in self-righteousness
their stole of complacency
those screaming for freedom
claiming their rights and liberties
defying laws that protect humans
laws to allow essential workers
do their job
to keeping the sick, alive

healthcare workers hold a screen
a dying patient says ‘adieu’
from afar, loved ones mourn

a nurse steps out for air
in shock, so much despair
sees marchers scream unmasked
claim threats are just a hoax
deaths only media hyped
they see not what they do
but only their umbilici

under its watchful eye
coronas sneer at their prey
multiply to centillions

autumn’s expectations
children, youths, essential workers
vulnerable and at risk
coronas’ tempting hosts
spreading more and more
coronas hanging on

essential workers stock our shelves
food for demanding bellies
barter with the devil
should they get tested and miss work
or work to feed their family
should they risk to lose their homes
their families on the street?
no benefits protect these heroes
what else can they then do?

winter locks the world
…again
this virus holds them prisoners
scientists work around the clock
companies start producing
new remedies for the world
but…
our fears and egotism
controls human behaviour
politics gets in the mix
add greed and nepotism
all powerful yet fatal

leaders and wealth
put the world at risk again
the rich’s win will be short lived…
the poor …we’re still not sure…

I wonder which is worse
which virus is more contagious?
which germ destroys the most?

corona or inhumanity?
who cares…
they all  are now bedfellows.

the world bleeds…

© tournesol 2021 01 30

A cherita – a tragedy and a crime

A mother of seven suffers abdominal pains

A family entrust a loved one in the care of health professionals
health care providers who should care with respect 

Suffering woman wails and pleads
attendants curse and denigrate the patient
forever silence her with an overdose wrong meds

&&&

government officials offer their sympathy

Shocked, they fire one nurse and orderly pending investigation
Media probes the premier if he’ll admit existing  systemic racism

stubbornly shaking his head says, no
tsk tsk tsk, how can he fix a problem when in denial

&&&

seven children  and a husband grieve

a community of First Nations mourn together
Indigenous people raise their voices nationally

Sadly I sit,
Wrapped in despair and umpteen questions
Shaking my head, when will this ever end?

© Tournesol’2020-09-29

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/indigenous-woman-who-died-at-joliette-hospital-had-recorded-staffs-racist-comments

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/sante/2020-09-29/mort-d-une-femme-autochtone-a-joliette/une-infirmiere-qui-a-tenu-des-propos-racistes-congediee.php

Welcome to our world, Lara

(c) star Wikipedia

 

I have not had the honour yet to meet this precious being…

your existence
has already
brought so much joy
adds a smile on my face

you shall be known
for touching our hearts
but more importantly
my wish for you, sweet one,
to be true to yourself…
Be unique in her own way,
amazingly genuine
authentically LARA…
my precious grand-daughter

when you are old enough
to see …way up there
in the heavens
look at those twinkling stars
they are your ancestors
winking and beaming
proudly upon you.

Welcome to our world, Lara,
and making 2020 so special!

© Tournesol’2020/08/21
Daily Moments – Welcome to our world, Lara, My grand-daughter was born Aug 20, 2020 making us focus on something beautiful rather than a pandemic (big goofy smile)

Longing for yesterday (free verse ) August 1 2020

Every once in a while,
she weeps of what was
and what is today.

The first few months,
She’d cry a little each day;
listening to tallies of the dead
…press conferences
Oh how she would dread!

the stats always on the rise
her home became her prison
of hope and despair

in time she’d try to manage
those blubbering crying spells
two, three or four times a week…
just a little overflow…
you know when you’re embracing life
and then you catch yourself
realizing life’s not so typical
you don’t know when it ever will be.

Every once in a while,
she weeps of what was
and what is today.

And those times
you think of your children
and grandchildren
and your wish has been
only for their happiness
no parent wants to see their children sad,
worried what the future may bring
you want them happy and hopeful
you want them to look forward
to newborns and christenings
to graduations and weddings
yes, those are things that make her weep
knowing their fears are also hers
she can’t remove, they’re theirs to keep

every once in a while,
she weeps of what was
and what is today.

today she had a few errands
the drug store,
the post office had a package
And then to her local grocer
so pleased was she
proud of her deeds
walking with her checkered cart
under midday sunny skies

Every once in a while,
she weeps of what was
and what is today.

And then she arrives
this new reality
slaps her in the face
washing, disinfecting,
wiping down every item
that was touched by others
you know… just in case

washing her favourite mask
cash back credit card
proof of ID health card
and all three condo keys

she’d looked so forward
to sit, enjoy those fresh fruits
a slice or two or maybe three
of fresh baked crusty bread
filled with berries and oranges,
and add some whipped cream cheese
and cold glass of cranberry juice

But the washing, the separating,
the storing and disinfecting
takes at least an hour or so

at last she does sit down
looks out at her balcony
flowers on her mom’s iron table
her tree she now calls her own
she weeps, of what seems so normal
yet, Is still not so
one still does not know
whenever that will be.

(c) tournesol ‘ 2020/08/01

 

an afterthought

how can one weep
up above the dark blue sky
heavens speak

Stay Homers, one and all…you ROCK

youths and adults all over the world!
anyone feeling too immortal theses days
LISTEN UP!
A NEW CAST IS IN DEMAND IN THIS HEROIC MOVIE
we already have health heroes
we do have truckers and grocers
garbage collectors, mental health workers
utility and IT folkS
government folks at all levels
educators, street cleaners, building cleaners
umpteen volunteers handing out food
restaurateurs of every kind,
delivery persons and postal persons
packers, sorters, stockers too
comedians and all sorts of celebrities
lest not forget Youtubers too
I’m missing a few but understand
this must be short
to speak to this very special cast
the ones who feel that they’re invincible
You wanta go down in history
as true heroes?
STAY HOME…we need STAY HOMERS!!
in this last cast of new heroes
STAY HOMERS ACTUALLY RULE!

(c) Cheryl-Lynn  2020/04/02

Yé! ma commande est arrivé

 

Oh les chips et le pepsi
certainement vont arrivé
Que j’ai hâte de savouré
une bonne bière pis steak haché

c’est le temps de la maudite
virus corona dix- neuf
pas le temps de magasiner
même pas l’droit de jouer d’hors

tout le monde vraiment poigné
pas le droit de travailler
parce que tous les politiciens
nous mets tous en quarantaine

Oh les chips et le pepsi
certainement vont arrivé
Que j’ai hâte de savouré
une bonne bière pis steak haché

les tits vieux on vraiment peur
pis y peuvent pas faire leur courses
ils doivent tous faire leurs commandes
l’internet ou leur voisins

Oh les chips et le pepsi
certainement vont arrivé
Que j’ai hâte de savouré
une bonne bière pis steak haché

Mais y manquait des produits
mon pot de beurre de peanut
pis dix livre de patates blanches
pis mon savon du dimanche

en r’gardant de mon balcon
les enfants et leurs parents
en vélos et espadrilles
distanciation sociale

on respecte distance physique
évitant de l’attraper
maudite corona dix-neuf
cause des maladies psychiques

Rester dont dans vos maisons
jusqu’à prochaine bonne nouvelle
que la maudite maladie
soient partie une fois pour toute

Oh les chips et le pepsi
certainement vont arrivé
Que j’ai hate de savouré
une bonne biere pis steak haché

Oh les chips et le pepsi
ma commande est arrivé
une bonne bière et steak haché
de mon Métro favouriiiiiiii!

(c) Cheryl-Lynn ‘2020/03/25

 

Cycling in snowsuits…only in Canada! (haibun) Daily Moments March 8 2020

Cycling in snowsuits…only in Canada!

Watching people walking to the park, she knew she must get out.  Shut-in all day yesterday was just to nurse a cold and making excuses that she must not venture out into the public; but what about just going out for fresh air?  But of course, that would be good for her both physically and emotionally.

She opened the windows of her condo  for half an hour or so every day but that was not enough.  She knew her mental state was stuck in mud that had dried up…sort of.  A must to go out and see people!  Tomorrow she would be hearing people and their trials and tribulations; trying to instill hope to continue on one more day or two.  Indeed, she must go out.

Contemplating this, she saw two bicycles go by! One adult was dragging another bike with training wheels and  another tiny bike was following behind.  The children were dressed in snow pants and big bike helmets. [She wonders if a tuque fit under those big plastic headdresses.]  Those big mittens must make it tricky to steer the bike too!  Ah, bicycles with toddlers and children going for a Sunday ride…that surely is a sign that spring is around the corner!

 

sunny skies rule
just above point of freezing
luring shut-ins out!

 

sunny skies rule
painting curves on stiff muscles
bidding them to smile

 

just above point of freezing
daring to remove their tuques
wind blows in their hair

 

luring shut-ins out!
young and old find delight
spring is almost here

 

watching with renewed energy
from her living room window

 

slips on coat and boots
stepping into brisk cool air
twinkle in her eyes

 

© Tournesol ‘08/03/2020

Daily Moments 3/ 8/2020   Cycling in snowsuits~  only in Canada  H aibun

unnecessary losses ~ Cherita

some changes can be embraced…over time

today I try to adapt to new gadgetry
feeling old and awkward, yet excited and giddy

some changes are not as welcomed
with heavy heart I grieve my mentor, my teacher, my advocate
yet, embrace our friendship that continues to flourish more each day

© Tournesol 2020/02/08

True beauty comes within(a cherita & memoirs) Daily reflections

How many more need to go? Who else will leave her on her own?

A friend once said, it is like being in an abusive relationship. Yes, sort of, but she sees it more as living in a huge family home with extended family…you know, moms, dads, grandparents, uncles, aunts and children which include all the siblings and cousins. (Most of the children are pretty consistent with their values but there is always a bad apple…un cousin de la fesse gauche sort of.

You get her drift? Nod twice if you do and stop reading if you don’t because if you don’t get it, the rest of this will be way way over your head.   You know, those who no longer know right from wrong or blinded with the public image and their vanity.

It is like living on a farm with many different houses…but ONLY the parents, grandparents and uncles and aunts run the show. Okay, there may be “in law” that can also poison the crops…this is possible.

Some of the adults were nice but most (not all) of the nice ones died and went to heaven. Now the evil ones remain because they thrive longer feeding on indifference, vanity, ambition and greed.

Fortunately, the children were raised in the back fields to fend on their own and the opposite is what they live which is compassion and selflessness. Their goal to be there for the younger siblings…to fend for them, be their voice and if they leave, they must find a stronger group to replace them and continue the war on crime between compassion and apathy and other battles between truth and deceit.

She thinks of the people she can count on and there are a few uncles and aunties that do “their godlike thing” in the shadows…being there to support the young so the true field (frontline) workers can have the tools to persevere. It is an important job…a “must do” job. She is still at “can do”…for now.

Life drops obstacles along your path but the challenge is to do the best you can while you are still in this vicinity and then leave. Your mark, your values and your inspiration will linger and continue help those remaining …giving them a model and this will go on and on and on …

Even if there are fewer and fewer, good souls do not have to change…you need not let the evil change you to be like them…when you find yourself slipping into moments of apathy and numbness, fickleness and weakness, then it is time to leave. Your goodness will still enrich the earth as the children till the soil in the backfields (front line) of the farm.

(A cherita ~ micropoetry)

From the bottom of the muddy waters, a lotus rose

Such delicate beauty shall not be defiled
Thick muck remains at the bottom of the pond

Strength stems from truth
Compassionate petals of perfection
Such real beauty is divine

© Tournesol ‘19/09/10

Daily Moments September 10. 2019

cousin de la fesse gauche: an expression meaning a cousin removed so many times, they are no longer really related.

hope for our future ~ August 21 2019

where has all the passion gone?

values and ideals
pushing you forward
once upon a time
you made a difference
where are you now?

ads boasting
a cause
a service
actors pretending to care

where has all the passion gone?

hungry children
desperate mothers
parents searching answers
ALL
represent our future
where is all the help?

I can’t help notice
posts on social networks
where agencies show off their deeds
I recognize some of these people
and wonder,
Do they really fucking care?
If they were paid just a little less
would they still be so impressed?

I look at ads and articles
media coverage of this and that
important people
acting like they care
they have a cause that counts
but is that just an act?

What drives these people
IF it’s true?
can dollars barter with passion?
what drives people to act and help?
what truly motivates?

Is the passion still there?
or are all these people who I see
like minions on political campaigns
do they even fucking care?
where are their values and ideals
what truly pushes one forward?

once upon a time
some of you actually made a difference
where are you all now?

am I blind or just too synical?
perhaps a bit of both
why do the ones who care just leave?
do they pick up a brand new cause
invest their heart and soul…again?

I hope this is but a halting spell
to catch your breath
start over again

I have to believe in this way
so I can live another day
with faith in our humanity.

those values and ideals
that keep pushing you forward
once upon a time, will come back
a time you made a difference
I have to feel you will come back
because all life form matters.

                     weeping
                    seeking hope for living
                     under the willow

(c) Tournesol ’21/08/2019

Daily moments – August 21, 2019