Dedication
This tanka prose is dedicated to the inimitable Shira Destinie Jones who has committed her life to developing a sustainable societal framework to provide a basic safety net for each and every child.
Tanka prose
A safer, empathetic, and sustainable global society in which each person has food, shelter, education, and health care, at least at a basic level… Such a wondrous, wonderful notion…
Jaded as I am, I tend to relegate such ideas to the realm of fantasy, especially as global society seems to be moving in the precisely the opposite direction – towards seemingly ever-increasing financial inequality.
fair cumulus clouds
benevolent, breeze-buoyed
goldened promises
wind-change churning, sinister
cumulonimbus-c(r)ackles
In truth, I take no issue with people accumulating wealth; but an additional billion dollars in profit for a billionaire CEO won’t much change his or her life, whereas the merest fraction of that amount could improve a poor family’s standard of living significantly.
It’s clear that our societies would be better for all if there existed a floor on poverty, such that every baby born could have a secure childhood. Children struggling to survive are, quite simply, less likely to achieve their full potentials and develop into fully contributing members of society.
tree battered by rain
shields bee nest in dry hollow
larvae grow within
workers distribute bee bread
pollen and honey for all
d’Verse Open Link Night
I wrote this tanka prose for d’Verse OLN #314.
#TankaTuesday
The above tanka prose was written for Colleen M. Chesebro’s ‘Tanka Tuesday’ prompt. Poets were prompted to employ this particular poetic form, which Colleen explains in detail.
Let’s write poetry together!
When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱 
Lines worth commemorating!
🙏🏻❤️ thanks, Sujata 🙏🏻❤️
Sincerely,
David
Most welcome 🙂
Such noble work! David, thanks for sharing through your beautiful tanka prose.
❤ 🙂 Punam ❤ 🙂
Thank you, Punam. Project Do Better could use more hands, eyes, or even mentions, if you have a moment: https://shiradest.wordpress.com/2022/02/19/do-better-5th-draft-ready-for-reviews/
Shira
Wonderful post, David! For sure the world isn’t going in a good direction. You captured it well with your prose.
❤ thanks, Elizabeth! ❤
Absolutely! Certain tech CEOs wouldn’t miss a few billion. Love the notion of bee bread for all.
❤ Thanks, Marion ❤
A thoughtful and meaningful post. I love the poems, David. Here’s to a more just world! 🙂
❤ Cheryl ❤ ~ yeah…
This is so moving! And a refreshing take during such times..
[…] https://skepticskaddish.com/2022/04/14/bee-bread-or-battered/ […]
❤
beautifully shared and a great goal David! 💖
💖 Cindy 💖
💖💖💖
Thank you, Cindy: Project Do Better has many ways to contribute, and needs more hands.
Shira
it’s a pleasure !💖
Happy Holy Week/upcoming Greek Easter, if you are Greek (as I imagine, by your name?),
Shira
Thanks so much and to you. I have the name but my husband is 1/4 greek. We love to celebrate greek easter. Thank so much! 💖💖
🙂
We an afford to give very one a decent life. We lack the will and we are saddled with all these notions of who is “deserving”. Still ,I will continue to support my local initiatives at least working to house and feed those in need in my own small way. (K)
💘 Kerfe 💘
Reblogged this on collaboration with learners and commented:
Project Do Better
❤
This is incredibly potent! ❤️❤️ Such a great tribute poem this is, David!
🤎🥰 Sanaa 🤎🥰
A powerful tribute to Shira’s work.
😻💪 Dolly 💪😻
Chag Sameach, Dolly.
Shira
Chag Pesach Sameach, dear Shira!
🙂