" Both sides, Now " + " Papatūānuku "

Both Sides, Now

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
 I’ve Looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show                                                                                                                    You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say “I love you” right out loud

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds

I’ve looked a life that way

 Now old friends are acting strange

They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed

Well something’s lost, but something’s gained

In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions  I recall
I really don’t know life at all.

A Poem for Papatūānuku – Mother Earth by Ngāti Hine/Ngāpuhi writer Nadine Anne Hura, and recently shared by Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand….

    Rest now, e Papatūānuku

    Breathe easy and settle

    Right here where you are

    We’ll not move upon you

    For awhile

    We’ll stop, we’ll cease

    We’ll slow down and stay home

    Draw each other close and be kind

    Kinder than we’ve ever been.

    I wish we could say we were doing it for you

    as much as ourselves

    But hei aha

    We’re doing it anyway

    It’s right. It’s time.

    Time to return

    Time to remember

    Time to listen and forgive

    Time to withhold judgment

    Time to cry

    Time to think

    About others

    Remove our shoes

    Press hands to soil

    Sift grains between fingers

    Gentle palms

                                                                                                                                                         Time to plant

    Time to wait

    Time to notice

    To whom we belong

    For now it’s just you

    And the wind

    And the forests and the oceans and the sky full of rain

    Finally, it’s raining!

    Ka turuturu te wai kamo o Rangi ki runga i a koe

    Embrace it

    This sacrifice of solitude we have carved out for you

    He iti noaiho - a small offering

    People always said it wasn’t possible

    To ground flights and stay home and stop our habits of consumption

    But it was

    It always was.

    We were just afraid of how much it was going to hurt

    - and it IS hurting and it will hurt and continue to hurt

    But not as much as you have been hurt.

    So be still now

    Wrap your hills around our absence

    Loosen the concrete belt cinched tight at your waist

    Rest.

    Breathe.

    Recover.

    Heal -

    And we will do the same.

Edited to add: thank you for the amazing response to this poem! I never expected it to travel so far and wide. Many people have asked who the author is so I wanted to clarify that I wrote this poem on the train home after the announcement of total lockdown was made here in Aotearoa, New Zealand. I felt like I could hear Papatūānuku exhaling in relief as we all began our journeys home. In truth, one month of lockdown is not enough. Even six months would not be enough! We need a total and sustained change of habit, globally and within our own communities. I hope so much we take our time to reflect on the fact that if we can do it to save ourselves for a month, we ought to be able to make similar habit changes for Mother Earth for the long term. The most telling thing for me was how empty our veggie plant aisles were after lockdown was announced - in a crisis, we will turn back to our mother to provide (and of course she will!).

Lots of people have asked for translations...

Papatūānuku - Mother Earth (the addition of the “e” in front signals the words are addressed or spoken directly to her.)

Ka turuturu te wai kamo o Rangi ki runga i a koe - means something like, “tears from the eyes of Ranginui drip down on you” (Ranginui is our sky father, it is common to refer to rain as the tears of Rangi for his beloved, from whom he was separated at the beginning of time in order that there could be light in the world). Not long after the announcement we were moving to level 3, it poured with rain in Porirua after many months of hot and dry weather. I could feel my garden rejoicing.

Hei aha - This can be translated in many ways, but I meant it like the English “oh well, whatever”

He iti noaiho - “something small”. Because our sacrifice feels enormous but in reality I think it is not sufficient to truly see Papatūānuku recover. However, in Māori, we often talk about the significance of small actions or gestures. We say “ahakoa he iti, he pounamu.” Although it is small, it is a treasure.

Thank you so much for the support  Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand

" Letter to Humanity " - "My Sister is not a Statistic" - " From a Distance "

Coronavirus Letter To Humanity

The earth whispered but you did not hear.

The earth spoke but you did not listen

The earth screamed but you turned her off.

And so I was born...

I was not born to punish you..

I was born to awaken you.

The earth cried out for help...

Massive flooding. But you didn't listen.

Burning fires. But you didn't listen.

Strong hurricanes. But you didn't listen.

Terrifying Tornadoes. But you didn't listen.

You still don't listen to the earth when.

Ocean animals are dying due to pollutants in the waters.

Glaciers melting at an alarming rate.

Severe drought.

You didn't listen to how much negativity the earth is receiving.

Non-stop wars.

Non-stop greed.

You just kept going on with your life..

No matter how much hate there was..

No matter how many killings daily..

It was more important to get that latest iPhone then worry about what the earth was trying to tell you..

But now I am here.

And I've made the world stop on its tracks.

I've made YOU finally listen.

I've made you take refuge.

I've made you stop thinking about materialistic things..

Now you are like the earth...

You are only worried about YOUR survival.

How does that feel?

I give you fever.. As the fires burn on earth.

I give you respiratory issues.. Has pollution fill the earth air.

I give you weakness as the earth weakens every day.

I took away your comforts..

Your outings.

The things you would use to forget about the planet and its pain.

And I made the world stop...

And now...

China has better air quality.. Skies are clear blue because factories are not spewing pollution unto the earth's air.

The water in Venice is clean and dolphins are being seen. Because the gondola boats that pollute the water are not being used.

YOU are having to take time to reflect on what is important in your life.

Again I am not here to punish you.. I am here to Awaken you...

When all this is over and I am gone... Please remember these moments..

Listen to the earth.

Listen to your soul.

Stop Polluting the earth.

Stop Fighting among each other.

Stop caring about materialistic things.

And start loving your neighbours.

Start caring about the earth and all its creatures.

Start believing in a Creator.

Because next time I may come back even stronger....

Signed:   Coronavirus

Written by: Vivienne R Reich

MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC

Tomorrow, when the latest Deathomoter of Covid is announced in sonorous tones,

While all the bodies still mount and curl towards the middle of the curve

Heaped one atop and alongside the other

My sister will be among those numbers, among the throwaway lines

Among the platitudes and lowered eyes,

an older person with underlying health conditions,

A pitiful way to lay rest the bare bones of a life.

MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC

Her underlying conditions were

Love

Kindness

Belief in the essential goodness of mankind

Uproarious laughter

Forgiveness

Compassion

A storyteller

A survivor

A comforter

A force of nature

And so much more

MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC

She died without the soft touch of a loved one's hand

Without the feathered kiss upon her forehead

Without the muted murmur of familiar family voices gathered around her bed,

Without the gentle roar of laughter that comes with memories recalled

Evoked from a time that already seems distant, when we were

connected by the simplicity of touch, of voice, of presence.

MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC

She was a woman who spanned the seven ages.

A mother

A grandmother

A great grandmother

A sister

A Friend

An aunt

A carer

A giver

MY SISTER IS NOT A STATISTIC

And so, she joins the mounting thousands

THEY ARE NOT STATISTICS ON THE DEATHOMETER OF COVID

They are the wives, mothers, children, fathers, sisters, brothers

The layers of all our loved ones

If she could, believe me when I say, she would hold every last one of your loved ones, croon to and comfort them and say - you were loved.

Whilst we who have been left behind mourn deep, keening the loss, the injustice, the rage.

One day we will smile and laugh again, we will remember with joy that, once, we shared a life, we knew joy and survived sadness.

You are my sister ... and I love you.  - Rest in peace, Rose 'Billy' Mitchell.                                                                           

Dorothy Duffy     4th April 2020

From a Distance

Nanci Griffiths

From a distance the world looks blue and green
And the snow capped mountains white
From a distance the ocean meets the stream
And the eagle takes to flight

From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It's the voice of hope
It's the voice of peace
It's the voice of every man

From a distance we all have enough
And no one is in need
And there are no guns, no bombs and no disease
No hungry mouths to feed

From a distance we are instruments
Marching in a common band
Playing songs of hope
Playing songs of peace
They are the songs of every man

God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us from a distance

From a distance you look like my friend
Even though we are at war
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
What all this fightings for
From…

Easter Hope with "Leave a Light" "Falling Slowly" and "The Prayer"

Leave a light…. Glen hansard.

And leave a light on in your lonely window
And the heartfelt welcome in your eye
From far away on the deep black ocean
You're the one I'll come back to find                                                                                           

So say goodbye to the long cold winter
And farewell to all we've left behind
From far away on the deep black ocean
You're the one I'll come back to find                                                                                           

So sing the song that your mother taught you
Of the gypsy heart that never rests
And wait a while for the arms that once held you
And pull them close into your breast                                                                                          

So say goodbye to the long cold winter
And farewell to all we've left behind
And leave a light on and come out of the shadows
You're the one I'll come back to find
You're the one I'll come back to find

 Falling Slowly

Glen Hansard

I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
You'll make it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
And moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
Well, you have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take…

"The Prayer"

[Celine Dion:]
I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way

Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe

[Andrea Bocelli (Celine Dion):]
La luce che tu hai
(I pray we'll find your light)
Nel cuore resterà
(And hold it in our hearts)
A ricordarci che
(When stars go out each night)
L'eterna stella sei
(Whoa)
Nella mia preghiera
(Let this be our prayer)
Quanta fede c'è
(When shadows fill our day)

Lead us to a place
(Guide us with your grace)
[Both:]
Give us faith so we'll be safe

Sogniamo un mondo senza più violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, e di fraternità

[Andrea Bocelli (Celine Dion):]
La forza che ci dà
(We ask that life be kind)
È il desiderio che
(And watch us from above)
Ognuno trovi amor
(We hope each soul will find)
Intorno e dentro a sé
(Another soul to love)

[Both:]
Let this be our prayer
[Celine Dion:]
Let this be our prayer
[Andrea Bocelli:]
Just like every child
[Celine Dion:]
Just like every child

[Both:]
Need to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe

È la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera

Some Perspective and Wise Advice from a Farmer's Wife.

Some Perspective!

1. There are no bombs raining on our heads.

2. I am not a prisoner held in solitary confinement, as millions are.

3. I am not a refugee trying to escape with my life.

4. I am not standing in line waiting to fill a pot of water.

5. I have access to fresh food and am not starving.

6. I have hot running water.

7. My country has not been ruined by years of war.

8. I can reach my friends by phone and check in on them.

9. My friends check in on me because they care about me.

10. Any whiplash I feel about this strange turn of events is itself a

sign of privilege.

11. More than half of the world would gladly trade their everyday

problems for the modest inconveniences I am experiencing.

12. I may have anxious dreams but I am dreaming them on a proper

bed and I am not sleeping on the sidewalk.

13. By staying at home, I am helping the planet rest.

14. As long as I have my mind I can create, imagine, dream and not

be lonely.

15. This global crisis connects me to people around the world and

reminds me of our common humanity. This is a good thing.

16. When something tragic happens to another country next time, I

will respond to it not with superiority, but humility and recognition.

17. I will fight for positive changes and economically just policies in

my own country.

18. I am surrounded by books.

19. I am surrounded by love.

20. The trees have already begun to bloom.”

Wise Advice from a Farmer's Wife

Whenever you return a borrowed pie pan, make sure it's got a warm pie in it.

Invite lots of folks to supper. You can always add more water to the soup.

There's no such thing as woman's work on a farm. There's just work.

Make home a happy place for the children. Everybody returns to their happy place.

Always keep a small light on in the kitchen window at night.

If your man gets his truck stuck in the field, don't go in after him. Throw him a rope and pull him out with the tractor.

Keep the kerosene lamp away from the the milk cow's leg.

It's a whole lot easier to get breakfast from a chicken than a pig.

Always pat the chickens when you take their eggs.

It's easy to clean an empty house, but hard to live in one.

All children spill milk. Learn to smile and wipe it up.

Homemade's always better'n shop bought.

A tongue's like a knife. The sharper it is the deeper it cuts.

A good neighbour always knows when to visit and when to leave.

A city dog wants to run out the door, but a country dog stays on the porch 'cause he's not fenced-in.

Always light birthday candles from the middle outward.

Nothin' gets the frustrations out better'n splittn' wood.

The longer dress hem, the more trusting the husband.

Enjoy doing your children's laundry. Some day they'll be gone.

You'll never catch a runnin' chicken but if you throw seed around the back door you'll have a skillet full by supper.

Biscuits brown better with a little butter brushed on 'em.

Check your shoelaces before runnin' to help somebody.

Visit old people who can't get out. Some day you'll be one.

The softer you talk, the closer folks'll listen.

The colder the outhouse, the warmer the bed.