THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

  

Rob Ayling, yer Gonzo Grande Fromage, writes:

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Thom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth and Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied within seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not?"

MEDITATION-MASS MORTALITY

@what point do we become "mass graves "and casualty lists

known only as numbers and not by name?.Wars and pandemics

have produced the VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL(with 58,281 names)

and AIDS MEMORIAL QUILTS(with 110,000 names).Ofrendas on Dia de Los Muertos

remember the names of the 500 migrants who died crossing into America,while

HOUSE THE HOMELESS in Austin annually call out the names of homeless found dead on our streets.

Photographs are used to remember the faces and names of the 1500 Detroit citizens lost to Covid,

as well as the 6000 Arizonians lost,who are also remembered via candles,flowers and 500 empty chairs.

Symbology has long overtaken name inscription memorials -the huge number of deaths in World War One

are remembered on RED POPPY DAY,and by Eternal Flames and marches on Memorial Day.Ad hoc Covid remembrances

include 20,000 White Flags and 20,000 Black Chairs in Washington D.C,30,000 images projected on the Brooklyn Bridge,

186 Roses to represent Covid deaths in L.A,and the Floral Heart Wreath Project in New York for the losses in the Five Boroughs.

The losses of September 11 are impressed upon us by the EMPTY SKY project ,and by annual remembrance services .

Artists set up flags and flowers when the numbers overwhelm.Continuing Covid casualties have decentralized memorials

at village level-like the listing of the names of Civil War dead.It is Black History Month,and the deaths of black Americans

are remembered in photographs,services,candles,flowers at grave sites and in churches across this mourning Nation.

In this way,both achievements and adversities are remembered and recalled for all ages .We carry grief in so many ways

We are more than numbers.More than names .From war zones like Syria,Ukraine,Yemen,Sudan,Somalia,Eritrea-

we need remember our common humanity,and stand with the living -women in Iran,girls of Afghanistan-human beings everywhere..