DEI

Why the outcry against DEI? 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

What’s the confusion? 

Some in collusion for exclusion 

The only conclusion is delusion

Blaming equity for mediocrity 

Claiming quality needs uniformity 

Fearing ethnicity means adversity 

Spreading falsity for popularity

Why the outcry against DEI? 

Women’s Environmental Leadership Summit

 So Grateful to be on the scene thanks to 

Tennessee Women In Green!

So many voices with important choices.

More to share from so many who care.

More great speakers for Day Two, 

but this wonderful summit wasn’t through.

Anxious to see what was in store 

at the Omohundro Water Treatment Plan tour. 

Taken from my social media posts for TWIG

Tennessee Women In Green - while attending the 

2024 Women’s Environmental Leadership Summit

John Lewis Way

From Jefferson Street that stretches to Fisk

Where he was a student willing to take risks

Boarding the bus as a Freedom Rider

Willing to carry the message wider

With sit-in protests at Woolworth's counter

He's well-known was a Civil Rights founder

Honored with a street in his name

Now they're trying to strip that away

Not yet a year from the day

Rep John Lewis Way needs to stay!

Often seen at the side of Dr King

Equality is what they tried to bring

Later sit-ins on the Georgia House floor

Always willing to say and do more

He witnessed so much hatred and rubble

Only seeking to incite good trouble ……

That’s the John Lewis way

Honored with a street in his name

Now they're trying to strip that away

Not yet a year from the day

Rep John Lewis Way needs to stay!

Written after attending a rally last weekend seeking to prevent change of street name.

Added downtown mural photo in support of poem. 

Half Mast

Flags at half-mast

It happened so fast

A steady, deadly blast

How long did it last?

Digging into his past

A dangerous outcast

The damage was vast

Causing flags at half-mast

In response to Chattanooga shootings in 2015. 

Reposting after July 4th shooting.

Peabody

 Her Peabody is gone but his spirit lives on

As a mini horse, he was tiny of course

But so much more he had in store

Saved by a lovely soul with loving him her goal

Taking him into the foal, gives him a chance to stroll.

Not one to shunt the runt, fully accepts the brunt

Soon to find he wasn't blind, so endearing his selective hearing

So many to inspire before his liver would expire

 Her Peabody is gone but his spirit lives on

Saw the story on The Kelly Clarkson show this morning but then was so sad to see the In Memoriam.

https://youtu.be/HmZfvLr8T64

Chadwick Boseman

 Jackie, James, and Marshall 

Not sure which I’m more partial 

To these strong men well chosen 

By the great Chadwick Boseman

SO Inspiring as Black Panther

HOW can he be lost to cancer?

Such brave character woven

In the great Chadwick Boseman

written after watching ABC special tribute to Chadwick Boseman. 

 

Baseball Tribute

Dad introduced me to baseball
One October Fall

World Series with Red Sox and Reds
Late getting to bed

Carlton Fisk hit his late home run
They were not yet done

Heartache from Game 7 final score
There'd be many more

Till 2004's famous comeback
A near heart attack

2007, 13, 18
So much would they mean

I'd send him the Championship gear
He would proudly wear!

We got introduced to Dice-K
One Jupiter day

Sitting with my husband and dad
What a gift I had!

Till they traded Mookie away
And Dad died the next day


Written early March when in Florida for Spring Training and Dad's service.
 Posting on my first Father’s Day without him.

______________________________________________________________

Added an update for the delayed service for my dad September 2021: 

I pushed the team away
Been cheering for the Braves

 They began back in Boston
My husband found it Awesome

 That my dad saw game back then

Working back to the Sox again

Comfort Without Contact

Find Comfort without Contact?
Is there No Going Back
To Hugs and Handshakes?
Too Much is Now at Stake
So Many Precautions to Take
To Avoid the Virus Attack
Take Comfort without Contact


Give Comfort without Contact?
Support Stores to Come Back
From Closing Shutters and Doors
Wary of the Fool who Ignores
Despite the Mayor who Implores
With Public Scrutinizing Flack
Have Comfort without Contact

Make Comfort without Contact?
Calls to Friends from Way Back
Faraway and Maybe Lost Touch  
A Message or Call could Mean Much
Escaping Sadness, Pulled from Clutch
Easy to Get Busy,  Lose Track
Seize Comfort without Contact

Written in early April, just a few weeks into pandemic.
Came from another writing shared on Medium:
https://medium.com/@sanfordcherpack/circular-a22d90f85c0e

My Elton John

I need to find my Elton John,
Breathing life to my words in song,
Believing what I have to say,
Knowing the dream won’t go away,
I need to find my Elton John.

At first I’d keep them to myself,
Not believing in their wealth,
Slowly sharing with family & friends,
Later daring to do further baring.


Began writing after seeing Rocketman film

I Needed A Swallow

Pains too harsh to face alone

Fears with causes still unknown

Wished the problem wasn't mine

Grabbed the vodka, poured some wine

Glad to sit and wallow

I Needed a Swallow

Numbness blurred the pain for me

Masked the true reality

Hope began to disappear

No one could be trusted near

My pride had left me hollow

I Needed a Swallow

By asking for help

Not ending it all

By letting them in 

They softened my fall

Friends put back my life in shape

Learned to live without escape

Feelings shared and not denied

Throat built up a lump inside

The tears were soon to follow

I Needed a Swallow

Posting for family and friends in honor of Recovery Month - written in late eighties

Reiki Training

2 Days Reiki Training
Hope to end complaining
Of the ailments draining

30 Days Self-Healing
Learn more what I'm feeling
Not always appealing

8 Hours With Attunement
Careful of assuming
Resistance may be looming

Half hour of Self-Caring
Awareness is glaring
Find the answers staring


Written midway through Day 1 of 2 at Reiki Training

Thinking About Lois

Thinking about Lois
And how you bestow us
Lighting the room with your smile
Wanting to stay for a while

Thinking about Lois
And how much you show us
Gracing the wheelchair with style
Travel not seen as a trial

Thinking about Lois
And how much you know us
Listens to tales we compile
But quickly spotting our guile

Thinking about Lois
And how much you grow us
Helping us work through denial
When we're digging out from a pile

Thinking about Lois


My dad was married to Lois for 11 years and we've remained close to her and are saddened by her recent passing.  . 

A Washing Prayer

When the water touches her hands
She Understands 
The subtle commands
Leading somehow in the right direction
Her walks through the sands
Taking sunrise photos with affection

When the water touches her hands
She Understands 
How goodness expands
When reaching out to make a connection
A heartbreak withstands
Surrounded by a loving protection 

This simple washing prayer
Makes her more aware
When the water touches her hands
She Understands


Feeling inspired after seeing Roma Downey in Nashville on March 9, while she was promoting her new book Box of Butterflies

Women's March

Fewer in number but we'll always remember

Marching in unity with women across the land

Taking a stand with a demand to be heard

Many chanting while others walked without a word

Didn't need to know their names, the cause was the same

Not a game of pointing blame but needing a change

Issues remain with so much more to do

With a wave of women in a chorus of Me Too


Reflecting on last year's Women March - walked while visiting Amelia Island, FL
Looking forward to joining this year's (colder) march back home in Nashville

Tears For Fears

Not just a band name anymore
Latest shooting hits at the core
Never thought of band name's meaning
It's making sense as tears are streaming

Not such a country music fan
See live music, much as I can
Thoughts of being shot so scary
Another group made more wary

Not sure I'm ready to watch news
Stunned at the violence some will use
Innocent lives disappearing
Crying more tears from my fearing


Written just after hearing of shooting in Las Vegas as a way to process the news.

Death Threat

What does it mean to kneel?
Such anger some reveal
How scary it must feel
To get a Death Threat

What if arms interlock?
Not so much angry talk
Then surely it's a shock
To get a Death Threat

What is this wide divide?
No where for anger to hide
Maybe afraid to confide
They get a Death Threat


Response to stories of death threats received after NFL protests during National Anthem last weekend.

Tribe Writers = Prize Fighters

Geared up for next round

Always success bound

Tons of support found

Speakers well-renowned

Talent by the pound

Champions are crowned

Written Tribe Writers Conference 2017 last weekend
https://tribeconference.com/

Merrill

Beautiful Merrill rescued us ferals

Got us to write out our perils

Our dreams, our joys, stop making noise

In our head, writing them out instead

Giving us a haven to share if we dare

With others who lay bare

Showing how much we care

We herald our beautiful Merrill

Written in early August when I learned of Merrill's illness - posting on the weekend of Art & Soul Open House - where I took several of my writing workshops with her - learning to be Crazy Brave. 
So sad to learn of her passing yesterday 

Art & Soul
Merrill

Drum Sounding

Learning the benefits from drum sounding
Time to experience some well-rounding
With the circle of the room
Feel the safety of the womb

Fearless sound, hear it all around

Feeling the elements of vibrations
Loving the changing sound sensations
Now my mind is feeling like mush
Body tingles down to the tush

Heal with sound, feel it all around


Written yesterday after Frame Drum Sound Circle at Art & Soul:
http://www.framedrumwisdom.com/

Immersion Retreat

The Immersion Retreat -
I'll save you a seat
Maybe move to a beat
Escaping defeat
Lovely ladies to meet
You'll want to repeat

Check it out: www.immersionretreat.org