My Writings and Musings
Once a month, I meet with Sherman Hesselgrave, the pastor at Holy Trinity to write a poem for the upcoming homeless memorial. I will post the poems here for you to read. This is the one for October's memorial. Here it is. Why not try singing it?
Oh, Canada! Why stand you so alone? What do you fear? And why th'unyielding tone?
You're the only one of the whole G-8 that doesn't have a plan for a national housing strategy instead of a homeless ban!
God keep us free from our leaders’ gall! Oh, Canada! We stand for homes for all! Oh, Canada! We stand for homes for all!
Here is the first of three poems I wrote for International Women's Day. It is called An Avoidable Pairing.
An Avoidable Pairing
Women and poverty,
A pairing that should never be.
They live below the poverty line,
$16,328.00 is far from fine.
Rent, bills, car and phone,
These are borne by women alone.
Also mortgages and child care,
Those costs are always there.
For women on Social Assistance,
These can be a real nuisance.
Rent or food, which to choose?
Either way, it's not good news.
Women choose to stay with abusive men,
Because they can't financially afford to be on their own again.
It's all because the rates are too low,
This is something we all know.
This doesn't give women a good standard of living,
This way of life is very unforgiving.
What can we do to change this travesty?
How can we stop women from being treated so cruelly?
We can get angry and then organize,
Keep this issue in the Government's eyes.
Let's get out there and support our sisters,
Show them that we are poverty resistors!
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The second one is called IWD Women.
IWD Women
International Women's Day, IWD,
The day we show what women can be.
Women in the Union, Women Of Steel,
We show the world just what we feel.
We march in solidarity with women of the past,
Strong women who before our time have shown us the path.
A woman's place is in the Union, that's a fact,
To the days of the past, we will ever not go back.
We march and call for Roses and Bread,
And lay out the path for the year ahead.
Women have come a very long way, and yet,
They still have unexpected good reason to fret.
Women's Wages still in 2013 have unbelievably not caught up to men's,
This fact very glaringly comes up again and again.
Discrimination in the workplace is unfortunately rife,
Sometimes, this needlessly takes a woman's much valued life.
Now, for reasons unknown, we have the Social Assistance Review,
So many bad things they blindly want to do.
It will take us back to the horror of the Harris days,
Run by extremist neo cons who are fanatically, ideologically crazed.
Heartlessly, ruthlessly cut our cheques to “encourage” work,
Do they REALLY think today's very strong women are just a left wing quirk?
We are extremely strong women, we can successfully fight this plan,
All of us united together, all of us together, doing the best we can
Opposing outdated, impractical ideas that are really very old and dead.
Instead of modern well thought out ideas that allow someone to try to create real progress and move ahead.
So, women of 2013, let's get out there and spread the word,
With our steel battle gear around us gird.
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The third one is called Social Assistance Makeover?
Social Assistance Makeover?
Should we merge OW and ODSP?
Will that make it the best it can be?
This was recommended by the Social Justice Review,
As a way to make Social Assistance into something new
Possible enforced work awaits those who are disabled,
Without regard to whether they are able.
The people making these decisions are healthy and rich,
They make insensitive decisions at the flick of a switch.
They've never walked on our side of the street,
That is a place they will never put their feet.
These decisions were made on a hunch,
Just like a decision on what to have for lunch.
Made by people who cannot see,
Disabled people's daily reality.
These people lurch from one decision to the next,
Without any thought to the lives they've wrecked.
They're just blowing sunshine up their ass,
Just another mistake to be passed.
Mothers sacrifice for their families,
With their limited supply of groceries.
No money for food after they pay the rent,
By mid month, the cheque is spent.
Once again, we're being screwed with a hanger,
With no attention paid to our anger.
How hot does our anger have to burn,
Before these stupid bureaucrats finally learn?
The mind turns and sees the danger,
Once again, pain and death will be no stranger.
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