The Waiting Game — Six Word Fridays

by Belinda Munoz on August 27, 2010

2010 Floods in Pakistan - A Race Against Time[1]hh

I long for something, waiting impatiently
I count the days, anticipating anxiously
I listen to the tick-tock mind-numbingly
I pretend to be cool hopelessly

Don’t distract me with concepts highbrow
Don’t bother telling me about Tao
Save the what, why or how
Like Veruca, I want it now

Experience, years, perspective have shown me
This waiting game makes me edgy
B**chy, y’think?  Sure, but still friendly
It doesn’t bother me much, really
Though I’d prefer to be carefree

I could look away, but why?
It’d be damn impossible to deny
Truth ain’t about to say goodbye
No matter how much we lie

This is who’s on my mind
Those of us who’re left behind
Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, checks, all declined
Empty pockets bleed with red lines
They grind, resigned, stuck on rewind
Have they been abandoned by humankind?
Do we see?  Are we blind?
They’re like us, may I remind
Our existence along with theirs, intertwined
Can’t sever these ties that bind
To ignore them would be unkind

From the single mothers here locally
To Congolese women and others intercontinentally
Do we understand why they’re angry?
Dare we cross the fabricated boundary?

Do we wait for the arrival
Of something otherworldly, supernatural or magical?
Is our staggering self-absorption compassion’s rival?
This condition, are we in denial?
Who’s responsible for our collective survival?
This is beyond political, it’s personal.

Spirits swimming in mud, barely intact
Once happy places, now flooded, ransacked
Liquid dreams washed away, hope cracked
Home is where?  Emptiness, nothing packed
Trickles of a future, murky, abstract
Every which way, past, present, hijacked

You and me, must we act?
Together, can we make an impact?
This timeless, tried and tested fact
Shall we give it a shot?
Can our forces multiply, not subtract?

sixwords_brown

++++++++++++++

***This post is inspired by the 20 million people in Pakistan impacted by the recent catastrophic floods.  I can’t not do something about it so I would like to donate $5 toward relief efforts for every comment left on this post by Sunday.

****If you would like to make a contribution yourself but are not sure which organization to send help through, I recommend Global Fund for Women, a very reputable and thoroughly vetted international organization based in my ‘hood.  One that I can vouch for wholeheartedly.  Their president, Kavita Ramdas, is an impressive woman whose leadership has inspired me for years.  For a sneak peek at Kavita’s brilliance, watch her Ted talk here.

******If you’d like to find out (or participate in!) what’s going on with this week’s Six Word Fridays, the prompt is WAIT.  What are you waiting for?  Click here!

++++++++++++++

Image by United Nations Development Programme

{ 1 trackback }

Anonymous
August 27, 2010 at 10:32 am

{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Jen @ Momalom August 27, 2010 at 5:08 am

Heartbreaking. I’m astounded at the little coverage and minimal response to this tragedy. Thank you for this.

Reply

2 Tony Single August 27, 2010 at 5:37 am

Here I go costing you money again! ;)

That was a great poem by the way. I’m impressed at how you managed to rhyme every single line without it seeming forced. And I agree, when it comes to people made homeless by forces beyond their control, it’s personal.

Reply

3 TheKitchenWitch August 27, 2010 at 6:01 am

Man, that picture knocked me flat! Love your comparison to Veruca Salt!

Reply

4 Tess The Bold Life August 27, 2010 at 7:31 am

Belinda,
This is why we love you. I donated as well. Thanks for the direction. xo

Reply

5 Lauren August 27, 2010 at 9:37 am

Dear Belinda,

Thank you for SEEING and taking action. And thanks for the recommendation regarding a great place to donate to.

I love who you are.

Lauren

Reply

6 Elle August 27, 2010 at 9:53 am

Thank you for raising my awareness to this cause.

Reply

7 Mel Gallant August 27, 2010 at 10:29 am

Fantastic message. Full of meaning for all of us. Thank you.

Reply

8 Christine LaRocque August 27, 2010 at 10:31 am

What a voice you’ve given this.
Devastating, real, you’ve made a difference.

Reply

9 Aging Mommy August 27, 2010 at 11:11 am

Amazing Belinda – you are a master wordsmith extraordinaire. How you spun those complex words and made it all work together in this piece is quite brilliant. I said it last time and I will say it again, I want to see so much more of this writing of yours.

What a message you deliver through your words too. What a terrible catastrophe.

Reply

10 Tessa August 27, 2010 at 11:31 am

oh how I love this. “Is our staggering self-absorption compassion’s rival?”….oh so love that line, and yes, I think so. Once again, you have put some deep compassionate, passionate thoughts together in a beautiful poem. xo

Reply

11 Justine August 27, 2010 at 1:21 pm

This is really powerful Belinda, and you have moved me to act. Not just through your words, but by your compassion. You are an inspiration.

Reply

12 SuziCate August 27, 2010 at 1:59 pm

Thanks for raising awareness. What an inspiration you are. Your poem is vivid and emotional, and the picture brought it home.

Reply

13 rob white August 27, 2010 at 2:15 pm

I love your compassion, Belinda. Thanks for sharing your heart and soul here.

Reply

14 PC Muñoz - Belinda's husband August 27, 2010 at 4:28 pm

My wife is awesome.

Reply

15 Kate August 27, 2010 at 7:54 pm

Wow. Beautiful call to arms.

Reply

16 Steve August 28, 2010 at 9:10 am

Wonderful and powerful words. Thank you for caring so much and sharing. This is a horrible catastrophe, thank you for doing your part and sharing with the world.

Reply

17 Meg - Minimalist Woman August 28, 2010 at 7:47 pm

My favorite lines:

I could look away, but why?
It’d be damn impossible to deny
Truth ain’t about to say goodbye
No matter how much we lie

I love this and what you do with it.
Peace

Reply

18 cj Schlottman August 29, 2010 at 1:27 pm

This eloquent call to arms is beautiful and powerful. You have raised my consciousness, and I will do my part to help.

Thanks for the wake-up call……….

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post: A Little Leeway

Next post: Knowing Your Place: the Science/Art and the Illusion