Splash No. 136 - 1/21/21
1/21/21
Today, I don't feel like writing an essay. It's been a long year already, from insurrection to impeachment to inauguration. I want to take a moment to appreciate. Let's appreciate that the US president isn't a white supremacist and we're finally on track to begin the end of this pandemic, among other changes. Let's appreciate what we have and what we've had and what comes next. Let's appreciate the water that we drink and the water that we don't. Let's appreciate Amanda Gorman's poetry and let's appreciate poetry in general:
My Invisible Horse and the Speed of Human Decency
People always tell me, “Don’t put the cart
before the horse,” which is curious
because I don’t have a horse.
Is this some new advancement in public shaming—
repeatedly drawing one’s attention
to that which one is currently not, and never
has been, in possession of?
If ever, I happen to obtain a Clydesdale,
then I’ll align, absolutely, it to its proper position
in relation to the cart, but I can’t
do that because all I have is the cart.
One solitary cart—a little grief wagon that goes
precisely nowhere—along with, apparently, one
invisible horse, which does not pull,
does not haul, does not in any fashion
budge, impel or tow my disaster buggy
up the hill or down the road.
I’m not asking for much. A more tender world
with less hatred strutting the streets.
Perhaps a downtick in state-sanctioned violence
against civilians. Wind through the trees.
Water under the bridge. Kindness.
LOL, says the world. These things take time, says
the Office of Disappointment. Change cannot
be rushed, says the roundtable of my smartest friends.
Then, together, they say, The cart!
They say, The horse!
They say, Haven’t we told you already?
So my invisible horse remains
standing where it previously stood:
between hotdog stands and hallelujahs,
between the Nasdaq and the moon’s adumbral visage,
between the status quo and The Great Filter,
and I can see that it’s not his fault—being
invisible and not existing—
how he’s the product of both my imagination
and society’s failure of imagination.
Watch how I press my hand against his translucent flank.
How I hold two sugar cubes to his hypothetical mouth.
How I say I want to believe in him,
speaking softly into his missing ear.
Matthew Olzmann (2019)
Drops of the Week
EP - Bitter Sunday - some of my friends put together a fun little jazz EP that is worth 15 minutes of your time.
ARTICLE - "The convenience of American amnesia" by Fabiola Cineas - even as we celebrate the momentous shift in the US's leadership, it's important to acknowledge the American tradition of developing amnesia about ongoing issues in the world.
BOOK - The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary - cute little romance novel that is thoughtful about different models of love
The new president may not be a white supremacist, but there's still work to be done. With each day, we move closer to a more equitable world. Reminders:
Ways you can help Mutual Aid Networks
Anti-racism resources
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Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts— you can reply to this email if you loved or hated the letter, or you want to tell me about how your day has been. I'm all ears (each one of my cells is an ear).
Poetically yours,
Nikhil