SCAVENGING HOPE: FIVE POEMS FOR RESISTANCE
By: Ric Hudgens
Tags: Poems On Medium, Quarantine Essay, Resistance Poetry

(Quarantine Essay #85)

I began compiling these four years ago, yet they remain relevant for our present and future days. Blessings to each and all.

SCAVENGING HOPE: FIVE POEMS FOR RESISTANCE

1. REFUGE

Despair is easy. Anyone can

do it. We’ve all lost someone.

We hear the news. We know

our time is short. Our hearts

will break and break again.

But giving up too soon is

its own reward. Please wait.

Not everyone surrenders. Some

find refuge in the cracks

of the darkness. That place

where courage grows. We

will live there. Don’t close

your eyes. Take my hand.

Let’s go find it together.

— rdh

2. TO GET THERE

There was that moment

when all of us wanted to give up

walk away

leave

never looking back

until we remembered

the place we would run to

is the place

we’ve been making possible

that we only see

when all of us

dream together

so we turned around

climbed back down

into the mud

securing the foundations

for a bridge

that one day

someone

will be able to cross

to get there.

— rdh

3. HOLD ON

For one thing

too much of it will make you sick.

Garbage in garbage out.

Which explains

why the commuter

sitting across from you

looks so depressed.

My counter proposal

is legal in all fifty states

and you don’t have to wait

until nightfall.

Just do it.

Look for the ones

who refuse to notice

when you spew cynicism

on their shoes.

Listen for those

who say nay

only when contradicting naysayers.

Work in packs

moving without notice.

People throw good stuff out

then complain

because worth is diminishing.

Redeem what they toss.

Feel around in the darkness.

When you find something

hold it up to the light.

Ignore those

who measure time’s waste.

Truth be told

it’s those rich in despair

who don’t know shit.

Learn to bless

especially when cursing is easy.

We’ll keep it together

so others know where to go.

Some of us are gonna hold on.

Forever.

Scavenge hope.

— rdh

4. SOLSTICE OF DREAD

When my life

feels weighted with care,

tossed between headlines,

I know one truth,

maybe two,

that inform my situation.

Outrage is easy.

Compassion is hard.

The need of this hour,

our solstice of dread,

is the difficult, tragic,

healing work of compassion.

Don’t fear angry clouds

nor shy away from

dizzying cliffs of despair,

but understand

new beginnings will not blossom

under such shadows.

Compost your loss.

Honor your grief.

Lean towards the source

of all light.

Let others glean our harvest.

Yes, my friend,

we will have a harvest.

— rdh

5. CREDO

I believe in words

in the ancient wisdom

of bards wizards shamans

who eliminate their bowels

in consonants and vowels

I believe in the magic of words

efficacy of speech and song

lieder line and lyric

to break bind bury birth

make new this age-old earth.

I believe there are horrors

malignant twisted abominations

deserving judge and jury yet

condemnation only holds at bay

vengeance does not make a way.

I believe with the one who

came down from the mountain

that we must all choose this day

a divergent path reversing

the scourge of human cursing.

I believe we must all stand

at the crux of sorrow and despair

both arms raised over the battle

holding out against the triumph of evil

calling forth original invocation’s retrieval.

I believe in blessing

that primeval practice

pronouncing goodness into being

confounding cynicism and science

practicing hope-filled defiance.

I believe in the power of blessing

energy released versus circumstance

bending chaos to creative will

before all goods dissolve or disappear

speaking blessing into the atmosphere.

Blessing

Blessing

Blessing

Blessing

Blessing

— rdh

Ric Hudgens

12/15/2020