On Value

In this complex, terrorized, and terrorizing world, it’s difficult to know how to offer something of “real” value.

To me, the answer is to just offer whatever we can—there is no gift too small for a world in so much need.

Maybe we gift dollars.

Donate to the Immigrant Defense Project

Maybe we gift our attention to those with the most to teach us.

[...]
i want to go home,
but home is the mouth of a shark
home is the barrel of the gun
and no one would leave home
unless home chased you to the shore
unless home told you
to quicken your legs
leave your clothes behind
crawl through the desert
wade through the oceans
drown
save
be hunger
beg
forget pride
your survival is more important
no one leaves home until home is a sweaty voice in your ear
saying leave,
run away from me now
i don't know what i’ve become
but i know that anywhere
is safer than here 

Offering value to others may take the form of making and sharing works of creative art that help people feel supported, transported, taught. Should these be big and important works of art? Yes, and, as my generation likes to say.

Yes, symphonies—novels—murals—street performances, i.e. things with Big Audiences,
and encouraging sticky notes, funny new memes, unpublished ephemera shared with friends, Tuesday night collages, good-enough homemade pie, poems written in a memo app on the bus and texted to someone, i.e. things with small audiences.

We may support a library, rescue an animal, attend a protest, raise our sons above toxic masculinity, show someone a constellation, correct a cleft palate. Search for the missing and murdered. Distract a distressed elder who is living with dementia. Ask a little girl “What do you like to do?” instead of telling her “Your dress is so pretty!”

Whether we like it or not, now is the time we’re living in. We have value to offer. It’s tempting to cower. But it’s crucial that we keep offering our gifts.

Writing Challenge

An epistle is a letter or written communication. Traditionally, an epistolary poem may begin with “Dear ….” and address a “you”—the recipient of the letter. These days it could be in the form of a voice memo, email, text message, etc.

Is there something—an object, memory, feeling—that you would never sell at any price?

If so, write an epistolary poem explaining to a potential buyer why it’s not for sale.

P.S. While cowering isn’t the best use of one’s energy, rest is different; rest is vital.