Poetry of the World, Summer 2022

    Somewhere there are people walking store corridors and cement sidewalks 

    in Skagway, Southeast Alaska

    They are happy, mostly

    perhaps a few have some personal issues

    Maybe sad, because of loved ones

    Or sick, because of a flu, or a cramp, or too much food, or drink.

    but they are by and large happy and content.

    Summer in Southeast Alaska, like Juneau, or Ketchikan, or a few other towns I have not seen or been to.

    I was there in May, before the mosquitos become a thing, they say.

    Mosquitos and flies are probably a thing in most of Ukraine, from what I would guess.

    But there are worse pestilences there: missiles, tanks, soldiers, guns, grenades, movements, war, artillery barrages, drones, death.

    Death is afoot in Ukraine, both sides.

    I say a fifth of Ukraine will go the way of Crimea, will be Russified.

    Mother Russia.

    2022.

    Bread and wheat become scarcer across the world, 

    Where people tend to be hungry and struggling and can least afford it.

    Vladimir Putin and his dastardly plan to make Russia and its people more of him and them.

    Atrocious pomposity, deadly, sickening, tyrant.

    Killer. Murderer. Terrible awful. There are many words for such sychophants.

    Some of them come close. But not close enough. 

    Dead, would be best.

    The Russian idea of their destiny in the world: what is it?

    I cannot find it with a quick computer search, I read of it in an article.

    And to assert that Ukraine does not exist, or their language and culture, to boot.

    In Sri Lanka there are large protests, the inflation and lines for fuel, unreasonable

    In Latin America things are better. Right?

    They cannot be as bad as in Ukraine and Sri Lanka.

    India and China with their almost three billion.

    Japan wants to criminalize poor language or hostility on the Internet.

    We can all commit crimes in many ways.

    Economists cry recession, and GDP growth is slower and high fuel prices

    Buffet us all.

    Some cheaper prices of late, which gives us a little relief and hope.

    We hope for the future.

    Britain's Boris will step down, crazy hair and all.

    Not too much heard from the Middle East.

    But I know it is sweltering.

    Poetry being made somewhere.

    Somewhere.

    We are there, we are here.

    Happy birthday to mom, wish you were here.

    Survive another day with no mass shootings.

    No guns blasting. Chicago, Highland Park parade... where else?

    And poetry will be given a chance.

    Enjoy the shops and streets, the air and scenes, of the 49th state.

    Be so fortunate to see another day.