The Moment of Change
‘The moment of change is the only poem’ — Adrienne Rich
But how do you pick the moment of change?
Was it when the animal got infected?
When someone ate the infected animal?
When a cough left droplets to infect others?
When the doctor’s warning was ignored?
When travellers took the virus around the world?
When deaths climbed rapidly to thousands?
When we all went into lockdown? When economies
faltered: jobs, businesses, homes, incomes lost?
Or was it long ago, when we created planes? Boats?
Or earlier, when we started killing and eating animals?
Well, we always did that — so that puts
the moment of change at the very, very beginning.
And perhaps that's true. Is change not, in fact,
a moment, but a continuum, a line, a progression?
a moment, but a continuum, a line, a progression?
Not the only poem, but, as someone else said,
the only constant? And if so, does that make
the whole of history one long, ever-fluctuating poem?
It may be so. Or was the real moment of real change
after we stopped clogging the streets? Did it happen
when the first wallabies ventured into Australian towns,
or dolphins up the Venetian canals? When the world
largely went quiet, and the creatures, hearing
that lack of mechanical roar and whine and clatter,
collectively waited, then dared hope? Was it
the first instant one animal looked up — or a bird down —
the first instant one animal looked up — or a bird down —
paused, and took a new, full, uncluttered breath?
Or is even that too soon to count? How shall we
truly be renewed? It’s only change if it lasts.
So can we, shall we program change —
not by default this time, but deliberately? What
would it take to make this strange new world
lasting? How can we catch it, hold it, stretch
this moment into the new future? Will we find
the courage? Can those who govern us be so bold?
God, may I witness that moment, write that poem!
Written in response to Reboot, Rewind, Recycle, Rebirth, Day 26 of April 2020 at 'imaginary garden with real toads'.
This is an epic poem, Rosemary!!👏💝 I love the idea of programming 'change' deliberately.. perhaps then we will figure a way out of the chaos that has been created, and yes you will definitely write that poem! 💫
ReplyDeleteThank you for that assurance!
DeleteI think that, for the most part, we only recognise the moment of change in hindsight.
When the world
ReplyDeletelargely went quiet, and the creatures, hearing
that lack of mechanical roar and whine and clatter,
collectively waited, then dared hope?
This is my hope, Rosemary. This small window onto life on Earth once human life is extinct. Everything is going to be just fine.
I share that hope. In this poem, though, I meant to suggest the far more fragile hope that we might learn and turn things around to benefit the whole planet before we ourselves go extinct.
DeleteBut the animals have some needed Respite and Recreation. We here are doing all we can to subvert old ways and to make money by having changes that bring obsoleting. Example, what was wrong with "Explorer 7" or "11" anyway? Yahoo and google (doesn't rate capitalization with me) have teamed up to promote google chrome. Others also.
ReplyDelete..
Well, Jim, I only know that as long ago as 2001, I learned that computer technicians, among themselves, referred to Internet Explorer as 'Internet Exploder' because it had so many problems. Personally I have found that Chrome, which I used to like best, has annoying glitches lately. As an Apple user, it is more the need to upgrade hardware every few years that I find annoying – though I can understand how the advances in software necessitate it, and can even allow that it would have been difficult to foresee them all and make allowance. I do mourn the old Pages publishing program, which was just great, and also easy to use. I don't think later versions measure up. But anyway, I take your point. The 'throwaway society' has not been good for the planet.
DeleteA comment from Kim, which either I or Blogger has managed to delete (but thanks to the fact that I moderate comments, I still had the email advising me of it):
ReplyDeleteI love the Adrienne Rich quotation, Rosemary, and the way you’ve used it as a springboard to your poem – pertinent questions. My favourite lines:
‘Not the only poem, but, as someone else said,
the only constant? And if so, does that make
the whole of history one long, ever-fluctuating poem?’
and
‘…Was it
the first instant one animal looked up — or a bird down —
paused, and took a new, full, uncluttered breath?’
I also want to see that change.
Posted by Kim M. Russell to Enheduanna's Daughter at 27 April 2020 at 16:21
You describe so beautifully the questions that most of us ponder from time to time. And I, too, hope that we can make positive changes when all this is said and done. And I know you will bring us poetry that reflects the happenings❣️🙏
ReplyDeleteAs long as I'm still here (smile).
DeleteI think I have never seen such change i such a short time... and yet when I walk out and see nature it has never seen quite as bright as now... I wonder, and maybe I hope.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Fate has shown us what is possible. Will we have the intelligence and courage to ensure it for the future? Perhaps enough people have begun to see and hope....
DeleteI too want to write that poem when we are no longer the selfish, destructive beings we were when we openly cursed our world.
ReplyDelete