Poems
I’ve decided to upload some of my
poems onto this site, starting with the two most recent. While typing this out,
it strikes me that both are dedicated to women born – like Rachel Corrie (and
myself) - in a Chinese year of the Goat. Strange…
Every Man Is An
for Severn Cullis-Suzuki
(see http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=MX&hl=es-MX&v=DLV6jaZFLro&feature=related
and http://severncullissuzuki.com/
)
They say that “Every man’s an island”.
Well, every woman is the sea:
Deep and alive with mysteries,
Wild or calm – but always free.
Some islands treat the sea with caution;
Some market its bounty and charm;
Many contaminate its waters:
See the profit, not the harm.
Some are fearful of its monsters:
Its deep dark secrets are a threat
To sense of order and “correctness”…
Some are just scared of getting wet.
Some islands suffer under rainstorms;
Some are thankful for the rain.
All seas are liquid, always will be.
Admitting pleasure, and also pain.
The sea has always challenged us.
We’ve studied it and tried to tame
Its moods, its restless energy:
It treats our efforts like a game.
You can scoop a pail of water,
You can never trap the whole.
You can chain a woman’s body,
You will never catch her soul.
- JHiD
5th
February, 2009
For Xris
(see
http://www.thirdwaytheatre.org/ and
http://www.thirdwaytheatre.org/thirdway_bio
)
You little freak of
Nature:
A lioness
with a mane!*
And one which doesn’t
hunt the weak
Or go for easy
gain.
No: Your preys are
the Powerful
And you don’t
always win,
But you are always
on the watch
And ready to begin.
And when you do,
the challenge
That flashes in
your eyes
Warns those you’ve
set your sights on
That you’ve seen
through their lies.
And when you set
your features
In that determined
frown,
It says you’ll do
your very best
To bring
those monsters down.
But where your
worth really shines out
- A role you took
on alone -
Must surely be as
mother:
One of the best I’ve
known.
You roar, you growl, you also purr:
A rich
and subtle blend.
And I feel that I’m
lucky
To know you are my
friend.
- JHiD
9th
February, 2009
* (Xris
is a Leo)
Animal Lovers
Oh, Animal Lovers everywhere!
Who love to watch them at the zoo:
The tigress pacing her small cage,
The short hops of the kangaroo.
Here comes my serious question:
You think those creatures love you, too?
The dog lovers among you
With dogs cooped up in city flats,
You train them to “play dead” for friends,
And snap them wearing funny hats.
You take them for two walks a day.
You think they’re satisfied with that?!
And then you fish fanatics
Who keep your fish in some small bowl
Or huge aquarium with lights,
Mermaids, and sunken pirates’ scroll.
You watch them swimming ’round and ’round
And ’round: with “Ocean!” as their goal.
And how about a parrot?
You teach him to say funny things
To show him off to all your friends
And watch the happiness that brings;
And chain him all day to a perch,
Or shut the window, clip his wings.
True love is kind, unselfish.
At least that’s something that I’ve heard.
True love is free and generous -
Even to mammal, fish, or bird.
I don’t think yours is really love:
We’ll have to find another word.
- JHiD 5th
October, 2005 Can You Do It? Are you brave enough
To lay down your arms?
Are you strong enough
To walk away from Power?
Are you smart enough
To admit that you know nothing?
Do you really want it all?
- Enough to turn “mine” into “ours”?
They’ll tell you that attack
Is the best form of defence.
They’ve got it wrong,
And I’ll tell you this:
That one was made up
By those who profit from War.
Attack is just the most
Offensive form of cowardice.
Are you rich enough
To share the little that you’ve got?
Are you selfish enough
To want Want and Need to cease?
Are you strong enough
To let your life be ruled by Love?
Are you really brave enough?
Brave enough to live in Peace?
- Jimmy Hollis i Dickson 21th
September, 2009 International Day Of Peace
while listening to Concert for Peace,
The Bedford,
Balham,
London
(sitting next to Maeve)
[middle 8 written 2 days later]
For The Victims Of Another Terrorism Allow me to be perverse and define "terrorist attack" as any attack that sows terror among a local or extended population. This perverse definition would then cover attacks that happened through criminal negligence, not just those that were PLANNED to sow terror. For example, if by criminal negligence, a small nuclear warhead were to be set off in a silo in Siberia, and the radiation from it were to kill (only) 2 thousand people immediately, and cause the quick or slow deaths of thousands more over a period of months and even years, as well as widespread disease and birth defects, wouldn't you consider the people terrified... and therefore the victims of a terrorist attack? Shouldn't the technician(s) who caused (or allowed to happen) that accident be brought to trial for criminal negligence leading to mass involuntary homicide? On the 11th of September, 2001, a terrorist attack was carried out in the USA. About 3 thousand people were killed. The President of the USA declared that Justice would be done: that those responsible would be hunted down and made to pay for all that suffering. Within a year and a half, that attack had been used as the "justification" for wars on 2 countries - one of which had absolutely nothing to do with that attack. As a result of those wars to achieve "Justice", hundreds of thousands more people have lost their lives. Many - if not most - innocent victims of war, including children. More suffering to pay for suffering. Today, the 3rd of December, 2009, is the 25th anniversary of a terrorist attack such as that theoretical one in Siberia. Over 2 thousand people died that night in 1984. In the next 3 days, 6 thousand more died. "Campaigners say nearly 20,000 others have since died from the effects [...]" I make that about 28 thousand all together. Or maybe 22 thousand if that "since" refers to the deaths after the first night. Let's not quibble: what are ONLY 6 thousand deaths more or less? I could go on about the birth defects and other diseases, but I'll let you read it for yourself. It is estimated that there were "more than 570,000 victims of the disaster". The technicians responsible don't NEED to be "hunted down": it's well known who they are. It's even known where they live. "Three senior members of staff [were even immediately] arrested." But not one single criminal charge has been brought. Their outfit agreed - 5 years later - to pay "compensation" of $470m. That's less than $9000 per victim, less than $22000 per death. The area is still contaminated... and is not being decontaminated. People are STILL getting sick. 25 years is a long time to wait for Justice to be done, ESPECIALLY when it's known who was responsible.
I wish you interesting (if not pleasant) viewing and reading: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8392358.stm) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8390156.stm) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/3/newsid_2698000/2698709.stm
) Please pass this message on. We should not forget. Jimmy Justice
Is just
Injustice
When it's applied to some people
And not to others...
- Jimmy Hollis i Dickson 3rd
December, 2009 Cada Home És Un Illot El poema segueix dedicat a la Severn Cullis-Suzuki (mireu Aquesta traducció al català és dedicada a la Mar, qui - sense paraules - m'ha ofert amistat. “Cada home és un illot.” Doncs, cada dona és la mar: Profona, viva de misteris, Salvatge, calma – sense domar. Hi ha illots que tracten la mar amb cautela; D’altres en venen els encants; Molts contaminen les seves aigües: Hi veuen els beneficis, no pas els danys. Alguns temen els seus monstres: Els seus secrets com a amenaça Al sentit d’ordre i “el correcte”... Alguns tenen por de mullar-se. Hi ha illots que pateixen per les tempestes. D’altres agraeixen una pluja plena. Les mars són líquides, i ho seran sempre: Admeten plaer i també pena. La mar sempre ens ha reptat. L’hem estudiada i intentat domar Els seus humors, la seva energia: Per ella és com si fos jugar. Podràs omplir un got amb aigua, No contenir pas mai l’oceà sencer. Podràs encadenar el cos d’una dona, No mai atraparàs el seu ser. - JHiD 5th February, 2009 traducció 23-24 d’agost, 2010 Boundless Love (A Polyamory Song) I have no chains to bind you, I threw them all away. Does that mean I don’t love you? Please hear me when I say: My Love for you is boundless, As boundless as the sea. That’s why I don’t feel jealous. I want you to be free. I want you to be happy Because my Love is true. So when you’re loving Others, I'm happy for you, too. I love you when you’re with me: No less when you are not. True Love is free and generous: It can’t be trapped or bought. For me, True Love is not a cage To put you in and lock the door. Your song is sweeter when you’re free; I love to watch you soar! Oh yes, my Love is boundless: Not limited to you. There’s room for Others in my heart, And to each One I'm true. Don’t give me any stingy love. Give Love with all your heart. ’Cause if you try to cage my Love, The bars will burst apart. But if you ever left me For some love “all your own”, I'd rather have a broken heart Than have a heart of stone. If ever you should leave me for Some love you think more “real”, I'd rather have a broken heart Than have a heart of steel. - Jimmy Hollis i Dickson This poem is inspired by (among other things) the song “Txoria, Txorí” by Mikel Laboa and Joxan Artze (see http://eu.musikazblai.com/mikel-laboa/txoria-txori/
) My translation (of another’s translation from the original Euskera [Basque] to Castellano [Spanish]): Bird, Little Bird If I had cut her wings, She would be mine, She wouldn’t have flown away. But, in that case, She would have ceased to be a bird. And I... I loved the bird. For Josie On Thursday I started watching this video about Josie Moreno: You never were happy with that “young man” role, Had to become a girl just to feel yourself whole. They tried to “cure” you with a load of drugs, But your mother knew better and gave you loads of hugs. You like dolls and dresses more than tanks and guns. So do I, Josie, so do I! You’ve been through a lot, but it’s only just begun. I want to be your friend, so I’m not going to lie: Life is going to be tough! Some people are going to treat you rough! But I know that you’re made of stronger stuff. Just don’t you forget it! Sometimes Mother Nature, well, she plays some funny tricks. But it’s how some people react to them that make me sick. Everyone’s got dignity and everyone’s got worth. But the worth of those who put you down is a pile of dirt. Some people take a lifetime to find out just who they are. You’re still young and you’ve made a flying start. I take my hat off to you: you’re some brave girl! We could use more like you in this sad old world. Life is going to be tough! Some people are going to treat you rough! But you and I know, Josie, that you’re made of stronger stuff. And we both know that you’re going to make it. - Jimmy Hollis i Dickson 21st March, 2013