I am an investor in people and poetry is one of my super powers.
J M Whyne
A quote from my LinkedIn bio. Over the last 9 years, poetry (in its various forms) has been one of my primary mediums for responding to everyday life and some of what is happening in the world. I’ve written words of affirmation, words of release and words of protest.
Joelle Taylor said,
to write a poem is an act of resistance but to then perform it as well is a revolution.
What acts of resistance and revolution are you participating in?
It doesn’t have to be a poem. We each have our own ways of being and showing up in the world.
The Work of the Creatives
We all have a limited amount of time to bring beauty to the world.
attributed to Kanye West (Netflix Documentary)
We should use our creativity to bring beauty to the world. I also believe we should use our creativity to reveal those parts that aren’t beautiful. We should shine a light on them so that they don’t remain hidden and unchallenged. Otherwise, they may destroy what is or can be beautiful in our world.
Toni Morrison said,
It’s the job of evil to keep you from doing your work. We have to keep doing the work through the dark times.
Toni Morrison Reads from “God Help the Child”, April 29, 2015
During a dark time in US politics, Toni expressed to theatre director, Peter Sellars, that she was finding it difficult to write, and he responded emphatically,
No! No, no, no no, no! This is the time when artists go to work…
(ibid)
This doesn’t mean we have to respond to every issue or to always be fighting the powers that be. For one thing, that wouldn’t be good for our well-being. I do, however, feel there should be some issues and occurrences that inspire, provoke or compel one to action. Our actions can be the catalyst for others to act. This in turn, can bring some of the needed beauty to the world.
Use What You Have
Good poetry is like effective prayer, it feeds the human spirit, it nourishes, it puts us in touch with forces far greater than ourselves.
Lorna Goodison
Know and own the power of your creativity. Creativity, in its many forms, has the potential to transform hearts, minds and circumstances. To the best of our ability and with great care, we should use what we have to do so.
Sometimes that will mean speaking truth to power, even in the face of entrenched racism, fascism, anti-Muslim hate + Islamophobia, genocide…
Other times, to again quote Lorna Goodison, it will be “to sustain with a word, somebody who is weary.”
Parting Thoughts
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can
Arthur Ashe
Although this post is entitled ‘The Work of the Creatives’, the ‘work’ is not ours alone. We all have a part to play; a way in which to participate. Do what you can, with what you have. You don’t have to do what anyone else is doing; just find somewhere to start.
And if you are still unsure where to start, some suggestions from an instagram post I saw recently:
- Some are posting on social media
- Some are protesting in the streets
- Some are donating silently
- Some are educating themselves
- Some are having tough conversations with friends & family
- A revolution has many layers. Be kind to yourself and others who are travelling in the same direction
- Just keep your foot on the gas
And I would add, “Just start.”