These are linked poems created week by week for a year, inspired by the book No Choice But To Follow, and the poets therein who did it first.

Saturday 27 December 2014

December #4

You Should So Ask For Help ...

You should so ask for help
that a wind will rise from the stones
and swirl around you, buoyant:
a soft cloak, a raft of air,
a sweet in-rush of breath.

You should so ask for help
that rain will fall gently, washing
all debris away from your path,
so you walk forth unobstructed
raising your face to be bathed.

You should so ask for help
that the grasses will ripple before you
like waves of an earth ocean,
as they flatten to ease your steps
and spring back straight behind.

You should so ask for help
that the sun and all the stars
brighten and flare at your call,
and people around you suddenly smile 
as you yourself are warmed.

First you must ask for help
to ask in such a way — must ask
for the long slow gifts 
of trust and patience,
humility, strength, integrity.

Or find the quicker way:
pray to be an instrument
of Love, Peace and Truth. 
Create with these a vision so large 
that all you are and do is in its service.

Whether you sleep or wake,
speak or be silent, scratch an itch,
make love, argue, go shopping ...
the vision is more than you; it holds you,
contains and fills you — that one!

Be prepared for your vision to take
if need be, lifetimes, and leagues of angels.
Seek to enrol the whole world
on to your team. Ask for help....
Take heart. You should so ask.

— Rosemary Nissen-Wade

Thursday 25 December 2014

December #3

Ask for Help!!
A song for those struggling with the concept of equality

(Tthe tune of I Can Help - by Billy Swan)

If you don't know what to do
if you don't know what to say
if the main thought in your head is 'please make it go away'
ask for help
there'll be someone who can change things
ask for help
It would do you good
to do the things you should
so ask for help.
 
If everything you're doing
seems to turn out wrong
try taking some deep breaths and remembering this song
and ask for help
there'll be someone who can fix things
ask for help
You don't know it all
nobody ever could
so ask for help
 
When you go to bed at night you want to be able to sleep
Treating people properly is something that will always keep
your conscience clear...
 
So instead of trying to hide that you don't know what to do
Instead of fooling yourself that you can muddle through
ask for help
from the people who know best
ask for help
be better than the rest
It would do the world good
if you do the things you should
so ask for help.
 
Michele Brenton 25th December 2014
Merry Christmas!!

Wednesday 17 December 2014

December #2

That's Enough Tough

When you break into tears
at Denpasar Airport,
because the pain in your ear
is an octopus-invasion of throb,
you have crossed the line.
Men stare, assessing.
Women don't cry, not here,
not ever.
One man tries to steal your backpack,
for you have given permission
by being vulnerable.
The official you ask for help
wishes to put you out of sight,
for adults don't cry,
and you must expect this sort of thing
as a strong woman travelling.
The airport medical staff
tell you to stop,
because it's not that bad.
No hospital for you.
Get on the plane.
You will be fine.
In the privacy of the aeroplane toilet,
you sag, and flush away all tags attached to you.
With what's left, you cry again,
afraid and alone.
The toughest act of all
is to say “I hurt",
and it's a badge of courage
to ask for help.

— Helen Patrice


Thursday 11 December 2014

December #1

e.g this is enough

Apt.
Beautifully put.
Concise, convex.
Drama dominates.
Everything expires.
Futures fizzle.
Grandiose, giggly, grunting.
Heavy-handed.
Interesting.
Just judicial.
Kitchenware.
Lampooning, lightness, & lexicon.
Magic.
Never? Not now?
Obtuse, obviously.
Patience!  Purity! Passion! Performance?
Quietly querulous.
Rubbish! (Roundly)
Sensible, sound and snappy.
Terrorism.
Uprisings, unguents.
Visual & Vital Verbs.
When?
Xasperating …
You?
Zithering …

That is enough.
Tough.


— Jennie Fraine