Poets, Poetry, News, Reviews, Readings, Resources & Opportunities for Poets and Writers
Author: Jamie Dedes
Jamie Dedes is a Lebanese-American poet and free-lance writer. She is the founder and curator of The Poet by Day, info hub for poets and writers, and the founder of The Bardo Group, publishers of The BeZine, of which she was the founding editor and currently a co-manager editor with Michael Dickel. Ms. Dedes is the Poet Laureate of Womawords Press 2020 and U.S associate to that press as well. Her debut collection, "The Damask Garden," is due out fall 2020 from Blue Dolphin Press.
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and souls deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better than thy stroake; why swell’st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more, Death, thou shalt die.
– John Donne
“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians, 15:26
Today we are mourning the loss of another friend, a good man, Ralph, to whom this is dedicated. Hence the sharing of this poem rather than the usual Thursday post.
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Congresswoman, Jackie Speier, Democrat, California
Dear Friends,
No one should have to live in fear of losing their life, especially when going to school or church, or visiting a night club, community center, or movie theater. However, the stark and shameful reality in America is hundreds of people have lost their lives to gun violence in such places. That is why Congress must act now to pass common sense legislation.
On June 23rd, 2016, Congressman John Lewis led 170 Members of Congress in a historic protest on the floor of the House of Representatives. The civil rights icon sat down to demand action against gun violence, which kills 33,000 people in our country every year and injures another 80,000 individuals. I was proud to join my colleague then, and I continue to work with him and other Democratic Members of Congress to bring a vote on common sense gun safety measures to the House floor. This includes sit-ins, town halls, roundtable discussions and more back in our home districts. On the 4th of July, I was joined by 100 people at a sit-in in front of a movie theater in Redwood City, where we declared our independence from the NRA and discussed possible solutions to this national epidemic.
On Sunday, August 28, 2016, I invite you to join me for a sit-in at the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo Church at the conclusion of the 10 a.m. service. I will not stop demanding action until this Republican-led Congress calls a vote on universal background checks and banning terrorists from buying guns. These are modest measures that the majority of Americans support, including the majority of American gun owners.
Gun-violence Sit-In
Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo Church
300 E. Santa Inez Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401
Sunday, August 28, 2016
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
As an offshoot of 100,000 Poets for Change (100TPC), this event is organized by The Bardo Group Beguines‘ Rev. Terri Stewart (Beguine Again and The BeZine) at Riverton Park United Methodist Church, 3118 S 140th Street, Tukwilia, Washington 98168 on Saturday, September 24th, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. with a social gathering from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Terri will lead a peacemaking circle that will focus on earth justice. She says, “We want to make a public witness of peace and peace for the earth. Hope to see you there!”
Rev. Terri Stewart, Associate Pastor at Riverton Park United Methodist Church, Canoness at The Bardo Group Beguines, Director at Youth-Chaplaincy-Coalition
The Peacemaking Circle will focus on ecological justice by following the tradition of the Tagish and Tlingit First Nation people of the Yukon Territories as taught to me by Saroeum Phoung.
“The principles of Peacemaking Circles are embodied in the talking piece. A talking piece holds the power of both talking and listening. It gives everyone an equal say as it relentlessly passes from person to person in a clockwise manner.
“Circles intentionally create a sacred space that lifts barriers between people, opening fresh possibilities for connection, collaboration and mutual understanding. The process works because it brings people together in a way that allows them to see one another as human beings and to talk about what matters.
“We will be utilizing the method of a talking circle that allows different voices to come together to explore a particular topic, the environment, from many different perspectives. This allows a diversity of voices, thoughts, and ideas to surface.” Terri Stewart
That same afternoon there will also be a food drive in process at Riverton for the Tukewila Pantry Emergency Food Bank and donations of food or money are welcome. Here is the wish list if you are able to help:
Remember, wherever you are in the world, go to 100TPC to find an event in your area or to register to hold one and no matter where you are, you can also participate in The BeZine’s 100TPC virtual event.
Of note: Michael Rothenberg, cofounder of the global peace initiative, 100TPC, announced yesterday that 500 events are now registered.
Unfortunately, I’ve unexpectedly had to take some time off from regular posts and updates, but here today is an invitation/reminder to join us – The Bardo Group Bequines – at The BeZine for 100,000 Poets (and other artists and friends) for Change (100TPC): on September 15th for the Zine and on September 24th for the 100TPC virtual event, which is celebrated from our blog. The themes for both are Environment and Environmental Justice.
Michael Dickelis the Master of Ceremonies for our 100TPC virtual event.
These are worthy efforts to:
help steer public discourse in a productive direction,
define issues and suggest possible solutions,
encourage consensus for the environmental and social good, and
connect people and raise the general consciousness.
Please do participate. All work will be archived on site and at Stanford University.
Zine submissions should be sent to bardogroup@gmail.com. Please read submission guidelines first. The deadline is September 10th.
Reader participation on the 24th for the virtual event is by way of the comments section or Mister Linkey. Michael will provide direction in his blog-post that day.
Also of note, Michael Rothenberg, cofounder of the 100TPC global initiative, reminds everyone today that it is not too late to register as an organizer of an event. While ours is a virtual event, people all over the world in 120 countries to date are sponsoring events in homes, schools, places of worship, cafés and restaurants, parks, community centers and other sites where people gather. Link HERE to register.
By way of warm-up, this Wednesday and next, I’ll post prompts on The Poet by Day related to the themes.
In the Spirit of Peace, Love and Community
and on behalf of The Bardo Group Beguines, Jamie
DEATH BE NOT PROUD (Holy Sonnet X)
Jamie Dedes' THE POET BY DAY Webzine 