It has been a long time since I’ve posted on this blog for various reasons. (I will leave these until other posts.) I am inspired today to share two poems and some images regarding the various marches happening to say no to hate and dare I say it stupidity playing out in politics today. I will let the poems say most of the rest. I must however, mention that this blog is in place of marching because my health and mobility levels do not allow me to physically join in the protest. A wonderful woman in her 60s with dual citizenship of America and Britain and her friend are marching carrying mine and others’ names with them. It is her first protest march. It is really her kindness that lifted me to write and share these poems. She and her friend have made hats to represent people who cannot be there and she plans to share my poems on a blog post I will link this to.

The Women’s March

A big shout out to all those who rose today

Marching for democracy, for political honesty,

They who, in solidarity, get in fascists’ way

By demanding greater fairness and equality,

Taking to streets and tweets to have their say,

No one should suffer violence, exile, shame

For their gender, faith, love, ability, culture,

Place of beginning, that’s all a blaming game,

While my body stops me from being with you there

Another still conveys me, she holds my name

Written in her pocket, merged with the hope in me,

As you raise your chants and feet again, again, again,

We walk beside you, though our footfalls you won’t see,

Side by side together, folk and cities we can’t name

Linked this day and after, to help deal with what may be

Thousands next to thousands, so many now awake,

No time to be demure now, time to write our herstory

For dignity, survival and for our shared future’s sake.

Antonia Sara Zenkevitch

Rising

“Does it always have to be so early?

The sun’s not even up!”

“Jump in the shower while you can.”

“I’ll brew another cup”

“It’s cold enough to freeze your bits”

“Text to see what time it ends.”

“This waterproof no longer fits,

What happens when it rains?”

“I’ve nearly gathered all the kit.”

“I don’t like other humans

And we’ll all be jammed up close”

“Have you seen the bloody thermos?”

“Oy, who nicked my toast?”

“Hurry, or we’ll miss the bus,

You’ll never walk in those!”

“I’ve made some sarnies for us.”

“Should we bring some spare clothes?”

“Have you found the first aid tin?”

“I’ve got tissues for your nose”

“Make sure that the dog’s back in”

“Make sure that window is closed”

“Some others just get up and go!”

“Good job I’ve brought spare food”

“Stay close to people that we know”

“Do you think we’ll make the news?”

“I’m just painting the last word”

“Tick tock, the coach will be there”

“They’ll be thousands, have you heard?”

“Which of the placards shall we take?”

“Don’t you forget that banner now”

“Don’t carry that, your back might break!”

“The coaches are here! So many, wow!”

“You’re kidding, this was my day off!”

“I’m fed up with this sodding state!”

“I don’t like the sound of that cough!”

“So we’ll say “No” again to hate”

“The police can get really rough.”

“I’ve always found they’ve been OK”

“Oh look, there’s Ben and Doug …

Hi, how are ya both doing today?”

“We’re here again.” “This is my first.”

“Let’s find a comfy place to sit.”

“We’ll change the world.” “This country’s cursed.”

“I can’t believe we need to protest this same shit

But will ‘til my teeth fall out, maybe still then too”

“For me, that’s what it means to be a Brit.”

“Who last cleaned this coach’s loo?”

And so an army rises and prepares again to fight,

Thousands of early morning lights against the night,

Coaches carve across a union heaving at the seams,

Grumpy, willing, ordinary, ready to be counted, seen,

All around the globe, people unite against the violence,

Keep warm, stay safe together but don’t stay silent.

Antonia Sara Zenkevitch