Self-Soothe to Soldier On — Daniela V Gitlin

One Republican state after another is passing voter suppression legislation, and criminalizing civilian protest. Yesterday morning, House Republicans voted to oust Rep Liz Cheney from her leadership position as House Republican Conference Chair for refusing to back Trump’s lie that he won the election. The media calls these actions “anti-democratic.” Stop it. Words matter. The GOP has gone full on, unvarnished, in-your-face fascist. Briefly, after Biden’s inauguration, my fear eased. But, once again I am losing sleep. And what good is that?

Our brains are wired to react more intensely to negative events than positive ones. It’s awful how easily worries about the future spiral out. Staying grounded, functional and soldiering on against the darkness is a real challenge. Especially today. Tomorrow, too. Every day, if we’re honest.

Anything that returns me—even for a moment—to a state of wonder and throbbing aliveness is a balm, an antidote, a resistance of the heart. A long walk. Making art. Bear hugs. These two poems, always.

****

Love and Fear, by Michael Luenig

There are only two feelings, Love and Fear.

There are only two languages, Love and Fear.

There are only two activities, Love and Fear.

There are only two motives, two procedures, two frameworks, two results.

Love and Fear.

*****

The Peace of Wild Things, by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

All photos and paintings by author. Acrylic on repurposed aluminum lids.