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I was once so god damned rich
Might be hard to understand
To have anything you wish -
No matter how large or grand

For many years I did own
In the heart of Beverly Hills
The very loveliest home
With all the finest of frills

Two acres and twenty rooms
Silk sheets gold plated brooms
Maids drivers and every tool
My life was easy and very cool

Then came the financial fire
Of two thousand and eight
I lost everything but my ire
For I saw the truth too late

Endless dominos were falling
Mandelbrot’s fractal chain
With human voices calling
In choruses of deep pain

I had my share of dominos
And debt to crooked banks
So I suffered mighty throes
And to them give no thanks

The descent was immediate
The depression hard to stop
It seemed that nothing fit
And everything was locked

Irony - pair of dice in human hand
I say looking down at Beverly Hills
Earning cash - giving sexual thrills
In the back of some stranger’s van

You say it could not happen to you
You are too smart - or this or that
But if it did - what would you do
To deal with the new set of facts

Could you - would you - should you
Where - how - when and how much
Who with - what’ll you have to do
And will you ever again find luck

There are so many questions
When you are totally broke
And too many indiscretions
Before it’s all writ and spoke

I was once so god-damned rich
And now I am so damned poor
If it wasn’t for those I’d miss
I’d say - I don’t want any more

the off-grid life.

untied from the shackles of strife,

2017, the modern existence,

getting on the property ladder, how does anyone have a chance?
20, 25 or 30, forced to work to pay every bill,

going to work all hours, struggling to find a way, a life against our will,

needing the money from any form of work, mostly unprogressive, unhappy 
life passing by, frustrating, anger, decreasing self-worth, causing individuals to be snappy

unfulfilled, potentials are not met, working a job all day, unable to progress,

money is the key factor, for bills to be met, let me digress.

often they still aren't causing pain and suffering, stress and depression,

homelessness is rife through the country, a feeling of regression,

a feeling of being stuck, how to retrain and improve your careers?
speak to friends or family and the same conversation, doubts, and fears
if only another option was available,

one that was accepted and not just for the vulnerable,

the homeless, the people with nothing,

but how is this existence different? it is truly crushing,

once you can see that your life is consumed with working for money,

the soul has passed, your energy too, it can get so hard it's not even funny,

but who understands? in the face of consumerism, higher purchase, loans, and debt,

who is living a life, truly satisfied, and their dreams are met?

Not all people living off-grid are rich in cash!
but they aim for other needs; security in food & energy, it's worth a bash,

 

a growing transition for many people too,

it's not just for the hippies, the spiritual, it's for people like me and you,

think about it for a moment or two...

who would you be without your car, house and your possessions?
is that person you portray the real you? or do you blend in so people don't ask questions?
are you honest with your family and friends?

or do you sit behind a desk wishing it would end?
there is a wealth of knowledge of old traditions,

from a time when they lived without these conditions,

the conditions of social media, advertising, marketing ads or vlogs

when screen time didn't consume every waking hour, and children were fascinated with tadpoles transforming into frogs.

hours spent outside, climbing trees, playing at the park,

not allowed home unless it was tea time or had gotten dark.

 

a shift is happening, ecotherapy, wild schooling, bushcraft, and hikes,

forest schooling, homeschooling, people walking and out on their bikes,

scientists are noticing the effects on children's behaviors, reduced health issues,

ADHD,  also a boost in self-awareness, positivity, confidence and mental health issues

is it easier to sit a child down to hours in front of the tv, or ipad?

than it is to spend a few hours playing down the park with dad?

or baking a cake with mum, the importance of these skills are being misplaced,

in this consumerism world, with employees a number, in a life so fast-paced.

 

Off-grid living, the communities hidden away,

all they want is a parcel of land to look after their needs, but hey,

that's not possible, 'cause where will the local council get their tax,

with the community, living off the land, growing food and chopping wood with an axe,

the need and usage of government-owned services would become minute,

living simply and within your skills of the land, renewables used, an abundance of fruit,

food preserved in many forms, jams and chutneys, frozen meat,

enough food to last year-round to survive through winter, or in the heat,

the food produced off the land, tending the garden, and grown for nutrition,

the most important for life and health also said to aid in remission.

off grid homesteaders, don't need to take the flack,

with health as the focus, working outdoors to provide, lowering the need for prozac,
comments from shallow minded people need not be said,

the power of community, working together, I want to spread,

to include children in the transition, of conserving nature and our wildlife,

 

the tranquil setting amongst the seasons, watching the stars, that's my type of nightlife.

On December 1st of each year, red ribbons are interlaced everywhere.

It's for each and every person infected by HIV/AIDS.

The immune virus that is hushed and silenced, a private personal matter like an unspoken rule.

If known that one is positive, then all life known turns hell and that soul, that HUMAN BEING is made to suffer unjustly at the very hands of society.

Stigma attached to the incurable disease breeds hate and fear making one diagnosed positive feel sub - human and inhuman like a ghost.

HIV/AIDS affects us all whether we know it or not - although there is no cure for this fatal score, we have hope that one day we can fight this disease.

Until then, educate yourself and get tested - knowing your status can help save your life!

Further spread awareness and prevention so that others can know, let's work together to end the fatal virus and stop the hate!

 

 

...............

 

this heinous monstrosity of segregation,

that drains the blood, sweat, and tears 

from generations of poor, illiterate, and downtrodden,

rapist of family values, and murderer 

of productivity and hard working hands, 

the dream of 5 year old boys whose aspirations 

of being like daddy wind him up on a dime bag street corner,

grappling frazzled bits and pieces, 

the remnants of a worn out dream, 

passed down through a shackled and indoctrinated 

system of beliefs twisted by the hands of greedy governments,

and corporate schemes that trade lives for money.

 

this heinous monstrosity of segregation,

convincing mothers they are better off alienated 

from their children,

and that a father's life for his son or daughter

is worth nothing more than three meals and a cot,

a place to rot, and a sacred book of scripture only given

to wash the sins of those hands that profit

from the years of ones held captive and sometimes murdered

for crimes unworthy of the time,

hours and years robbed from innocent loved ones

who pay the burden of the brainless zombies

taking pride in their jobs that torture the downtrodden.of societies

in every nation.

 

this the system we take pride in, 

that we divide in, 

husband from wife, father from son,

left with no remaining choice in the end,

but to sever all ties completely from everyone,

draining any scintilla of scraps 

from the family 'till of loving plenty',

no leftovers from the dinnertime table of togetherness

savored for a child in need of 

what it means to awaken to the sound of unity,

a now lost and forgotten concept taught only 

in lieu of a desire for mass destruction and for-profit policing 

of innocent citizens,

where are the people who say they care about the children?

 

 

 

5:36 AM 7/11/2013 ©

 

with inspiration from 'riddles'

http://www.postpoems.org/authors/belial_lair/poem/945997#comment-402731

 

......................

Homage to Geneva  

 

 

Ugonna Wachuku 

 

(c) 1998: Ugonna Wachuku 

 

Contents: 

 

Dedication

 

Prologue

 

Escalade

 

Homage to Geneva

 

Fireworks

 

Spirit of Geneva

 

English Garden

 

River Walk

 

Alpine Garden

 

Take My Love

 

The Author 

 

Dedication: 

 

To every Genevese

and to every other

human being who,

in oneness, symbolize

that Genevan spirit

of tolerance, peace,

humanitarianism and

brotherhood of all

humankind.

 

 

Prologue  

 

"Man is born free;

and everywhere he

is in chains."

~ Jean Jacques Rousseau

 

"The desire to be as

civil as possible is

a deep motive for the

contemplative life."

~M. Scott Peck

 

In Geneva today, the human creative spirit is

not in chains. One is invited to let one's creative

essence run calmly wild for the peaceful good of all

humanity.

 

In contemplation therefore, Geneva will never cease

to awe and inspire  my deepest poetic emotion. For

me, Geneva is not just a small, global city and state.

Geneva is an emerald beauty of huge, natural, creative

inspiration so unexplainable.

 

In paying this homage to Geneva, it is my kind wish to

invoke the most subtle feeling in every human heart -

so that we can begin to see Geneva anew based on her

ancestral heritage in the reformation and humanitarianism.

 

And also in the moving spirit of her hard-won independence

clothed in that strengthening solidarity of the human spirit.

In Geneva's great name, let us continue to live with that

cherished spirit of peace warmed in the sky-blue garments

of love and solidified in the flame of human adversity

and soulful yearning for survival through this journey

called life.

 

At the very dawn of the new millennium, let us embrace

one another with that sweet fragrance of humane care

and healing oneness.

 

In Geneva's meadow gardens and green country-sides

of inspiration and peace, :- from Hermance to Dardagny;

from Veyrier to Versoix, to Plan-les-Ouates - where 

inspiring Patek Philippe have been humanely creating

worthy watches for humankind since 1839, let us, indeed,

affirm our love for one another despite our skin colour,

religious creed, social status, level of education or ethnic

origin: 

By doing so, we will surely build an enchanting world of

peace and humaneness where everyone will sit with joy

and fulfilment under his or her own Alpine tree

or palm tree.

 

Subsequently, let me specially call on all women and

men of inspiration and goodwill to join me in paying

this heart-felt homage to Geneva - with additional

inspiration and encouragement from abiding friends

such as Franck Muller: Master of Complications! 

 

Let my creative tribute to this humanely great Canton of

the Swiss, Confederation Helvetia, which I have come to

christen: Poetic Geneva, outlive the monuments of time

and stone. Let us cherish this humble homage to Geneva

now and forever!

 

Ugonna Wachuku

Wednesday 20 May, 1998

Geneva, Switzerland

 

i:

 

Escalade 

 

There is a spirit so strong

and beautiful on this land

called Geneva where the

rivers Rhone and Arve

calmly flow.

 

On a summer boatride down

the Rhone town and country,

one's joy is aroused by the

enchanting nature of Geneva's

bloom and glow.

 

Geneva is a beautiful land

beckoning to love and to

embrace with a maidens's

charm.

 

The people of Geneva are

beautiful too. It is the

people's strong spirit

that sustains the land in

beauty an peaceful

independence.

 

This strong spirit came

on firmly during that

dark night of December

11, 1602, when it seemed

the stars of hope and

light had fled from

Geneva's sky.

 

When it seemed the people

of Geneva will smile no

more in the land's beauty.

With Charles-Emmanuel -

Duke of Savoy on the brink

of conquering Geneva by

suprise, the land's peaceful

soul was shaken.

 

From the city walls at

Plainpalais to the

clinging bells of Saint

Peter's Cathedral, the

Genevese raised their

loving lanterns in

oneness.

 

Jacques Mrcier's first

shot of warning can

still be heard today,

raising that strong

spirit for the land's

fragrant, uplifting

freedom.

 

Even Francois Bousezel

who gave his life to

keep Geneva's peaceful

independence and beauty

will still be remembered

till the end of time.

 

In a spirit of oneness

and love, Geneva fought

to bring glorious light

and freedom during that

night of terror.

 

Through the years, that

sweet aroma of Mere

Royaume's pot of saving

soup can still be breathed

in soothing defence of

Geneva's independence.

 

Lady Piaget's keys

unlocked the darling

door to freedom and

joyful victory.

 

Geneva won her freedom,

her peaceful independence

when Isaac Mercier dropped

the Portcullis at the

blown-up gate of Porte

Neuve.

 

The stars smiled.

Heaven heathered.

 

The dark grey sky

bloomed into dewy

dawn on that glorious

sunday morning when

Theodore de Beze and

Simone Goulart led

Geneva in worship

and praise to God

Almighty who made

all things peaceful

and beautifully

healing.

 

Remember, there is

a strong spirit so

splendid and uplifting

on this land of heaven's

earth called Geneva where

the rivers Rhone and Arve

freshly flow with gladness.

 

There is a spirit so

strong and beautifully

inspiring on this

Genevese land called

Saint Gervais where

eighteen men lie

while the freedom

and peaceful

independence

they won live

for you and

for me till

the end of

time!

 

....... From my book: Homage to Geneva ....... 

(c) Ugonna Wachuku: May 1998 

Geneva: Switzerland 

_ 

 

Homage to Geneva 

~ Critiques/Comments ~ 

 

Serene Moment

belleloved@excite.com

  A very nice tribute to Geneva.  I've learned a lot on an historical perspective.  Great work. ^_^  

http://www.postpoems.com/members/serene  

 

Helen Schmidt

heljac123@aol.com

Ugonna, 

 

What a wonderful homage to a beautiful city. My husband and I have visited Geneva and found it to be a lovely, ethereal place whose citizens are friendly and welcoming.  I enjoyed the historical citations in your "Homage to Geneva."  A beautiful piece! 

 

Best regards, 

 

Helen

http://PostPoems.com/members/helen

2002-02-22 12:03:50 

Farah D

fiffi_d@yahoo.com

I was in Geneva last month and I can totally relate to the sentiments that you have expressed so beautifully here..Ugonna. Its a most wonderful and humane city...and you have brought that aspect of the city so well in your poem. Its as if Geneva is speaking to you and through the words of Geneva you speak to us. One of my most memorable memories of Geneva is from the air as the plane swoops in to land ..with the calmness of the lake beckoning you to come down quickly. I will surely be back again in Geneva soon and I will surely be back before that to read your wonderful words. Thank you Ugonna.

http://PostPoems.com/members/destiny

 

2002-04-14 13:53:42