Poetic Muselings

Political Poetry

Poets write poems about anything and everything.  Here are a couple of poems I wrote during election season, November 2016:

Grab That

If Trump wins
nothing will be the same.

I’ll lose my healthcare
and have to beg on corners
for insulin
and anti-depressants.

We’ll go to war
with everyone.

And no one will be safe.

Especially kitties
and other pussies.

Day 8: nothing will be the same/nothing will ever change
November 8, 2016

Say Something Political

Like I have to ask,
everyone has their opinion
and they all want to wave
it in your face.

Like hanging with folks
dressed in trench coats,
ready to expose themselves
at the slightest provocation.

The jackets fly open
and I see your Hilary or Sanders
sticker. You proudly show off Stein.
Yes, your Trump sticker’s bigger
than all the rest.

Excuse me, but I like those
who play their cards closer
to the vest, who won’t reveal
who they voted for, who believe
in the privacy of the voting booth.

Not that I know any.

Day 7
November 7, 2016

2017 Embroidery Challenge

In December 2016 I was invited to an embroidery challenge. The challenge was to stitch every day in 2017 (at least one stitch) and post your progress on social media. I joined the Facebook group: 1 Year of Stitches: 2017 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1294313713974098/ and decided to post the pictures of my progress on my Facebook timeline. I knew that freeform was not my style so I decided to do “little embroideries,” using designs that I already had and randomly picking the floss color for each one. The randomness is gone and the “little embroideries” may get bigger as the year goes by.

I was excited to start, but apprehensive too. How much time would this take? Could I keep up?
Would I get bored? I decided on using three strands of embroidery floss (out of 6) which would make a finer design. I’m also using felt on some of the designs. I use a Sulky wash-away stabilizer that comes in packs of 12 sheets that you can print designs on with your printer. You just print out the design and peel it off the backing and it sticks to your fabric. It doesn’t always stick well. I usually embroider in the morning. If I turn on all my lights I have enough lighting at night to embroider too.

Starting three days before January 1st, I felt a sense of urgency, which didn’t leave me until the first design was done, the hummingbird, in a week’s time. Now I don’t have the same sense of urgency. I am supposed to post to the Facebook group on Sundays, but now post whenever I have a finished embroidery to share. I’m on Day 54 and have finished five so far.

I’ve framed one and plan to frame the rest for gifts in 2018. One friend has already tagged the angelfish for herself. The themes are one color floss and bling! I’m beading each one, and adding sequins to some of them.

What have I learned so far? That saying you’ll do something for a year is quite different than actually working on something every day. That I have to take it one day at a time or the task will seem far too enormous. That having external support (Facebook likes and friend’s comments and the support of the Poetic Muselings) is extremely important and helpful. Here’s to 10 more months of stitching! And 8 days!!!

This is my current WIP, a chandelier, almost done:

Creating in Times of Change, Uncertainty and Conflict

You might think, “Everything’s up in the air. I can’t write.”

Or, “I’m so upset, I can’t paint right now.”

Or, “I’m moving and I’ve put all my supplies away. I’m not able to make anything.”

These are the times, during change, when it’s imperative to pick up the pen, the paintbrush, to sew, dance and make music.

In the past year there’s been lots of change in my life. I have a new boyfriend. There’s been a lot of family and friend drama. I’ve considered moving. On the world stage, there’s been a divisive election year followed by an even more chaotic post-election season.

I’ve had a hard time creating this year. It seems pointless to write and make things when I’m upset or angry. Is my creative work important during these changing times? I’ve decided it is. In spite of all this chaos, I’ve learned the basics of quilting, started a photography website Anne Westlund Photography and even wrote a few poems.

If nothing ever changes, we become stale and so do the products of our creativity. Rather than decry these “interesting times,” use them as fodder for your creative impulses. Utilize conflict and uncertainty as inspiration, subject matter, and learn to see the world in a new way, with “new eyes.”

That’s what we need, a new vision, not the “same old, same old.” So get creating! Much success to you!