THE WEEK OF

Norma Tucker 

 

 

 

 The week began with the celebration of two holidays on the same day, Sunday, June 19, 2022 – Fathers’ Day and Juneteenth. The first a longtime tradition and the second in its second year of recognition, here in the United States of America. Then began the events of the working week, events that day to day discredits the word, “united.” There is nothing united when a former president, his family and aides are investigated for tricking a significant percentage of the populace to believe he won an election that he numerically, lost. These believers include many of our nation’s lawmakers 

 

There is nothing united about a country whose Supreme Court nullifies the 108 years of a New York state law restricting who can carry a concealed gun. A law supported by eight out of ten New Yorkers. 

 

There is nothing united about a country whose Supreme Court nullifies a long-standing law that provides women the right to abortion. According to THE WASHINGTON POST’s June 24, 2022 online article, fifty-eight percent of the populace support the right to abortion while only twenty-eight percent were not supportive.  

 

As each of these events occurred on different days of the same week, as each was duly reported I, along with the majorities in the state of New York and across the 50 states felt a myriad of emotions of despair. And with each event, my despair deepened. I sought solace. 

 

 I turned to a poem. A poem that magically or intentionally appeared on my Facebook page. A poem by Mary Oliver, titled:

 

“MYSTERIES, YES”

 

I quote below the last lines of the second stanza: 

 

“How people come from delight or the

Scars of damage.

To the comfort of a poem.”

 

I return to reading this poem several times a day. I found no other comfort. Maybe next week.