On Tuesday, on a somewhat lighter note, we went to P K Deb for his 'Actor Turned Author', a poem prompted by the news that a book written by Charlie Chaplin, the 'bearer of a short but popular name', has recently been published. On Wednesday, however, we were back with the serious with Carloyn Conrthwaite's 'At the Flick...' which came with a link to an article, itself very powerful, about a former US execution chief who is 'haunted' by his experiences. It's impossible to quite effectively from this poem so I urge you to click on the link and read the whole thing again.
On Thursday we were back with Sue Norton for 'Are the robots about to rise?', a poem prompted by the notion that we may be on the verge of an artificial intelligence that is smarter than we are. What can I say? When I read stuff like this I find myself grateful that I am no longer thirty. I worry, though, about the state of the world in which my daughter will live out her life.
Finally, on Friday, James Schwartz gave us 'Piano/Peninsula' (See video clip here) and we heartily apologise for the fact that there was a glitch in the embedded video which were unable to correct. Sorry, James, we hope the link supplied today goes some way towards getting us back into your good books.
On quite a different note, at the request of Hamish, I am publishing below my own photograph and poem for International Women's Day on Saturday.
One Day
(for International Women's Day, 2014)
Today, just for today,
I will have courage
and be steadfast and sure-footed;
putting my faith in the strength and rightness
of my own beautiful body,
I will believe in my ability
to solve the problems
that frustrate my aspirations
and my purposes.
Today, I will celebrate my talents
and remember my achievements;
I will give thanks for my womanliness ,
and my capacity for love,
both to give and receive it,
which is not to mention
the deep well of my past sorrow
and the glorious power of my will.
Today, I will honour all that I am
and pay attention
to the 'more' that I could be.
Today, for just this day,
I stand beside my sisters -
because the future
comes one day at a time.
On Thursday we were back with Sue Norton for 'Are the robots about to rise?', a poem prompted by the notion that we may be on the verge of an artificial intelligence that is smarter than we are. What can I say? When I read stuff like this I find myself grateful that I am no longer thirty. I worry, though, about the state of the world in which my daughter will live out her life.
Finally, on Friday, James Schwartz gave us 'Piano/Peninsula' (See video clip here) and we heartily apologise for the fact that there was a glitch in the embedded video which were unable to correct. Sorry, James, we hope the link supplied today goes some way towards getting us back into your good books.
On quite a different note, at the request of Hamish, I am publishing below my own photograph and poem for International Women's Day on Saturday.
One Day
(for International Women's Day, 2014)
Today, just for today,
I will have courage
and be steadfast and sure-footed;
putting my faith in the strength and rightness
of my own beautiful body,
I will believe in my ability
to solve the problems
that frustrate my aspirations
and my purposes.
Today, I will celebrate my talents
and remember my achievements;
I will give thanks for my womanliness ,
and my capacity for love,
both to give and receive it,
which is not to mention
the deep well of my past sorrow
and the glorious power of my will.
Today, I will honour all that I am
and pay attention
to the 'more' that I could be.
Today, for just this day,
I stand beside my sisters -
because the future
comes one day at a time.
