Musing & memes

Many on my friendslist have spoken my mind about the election (I intend no offense to those who opine differently!/standard disclaimer). I voted for Kerry, though my leanings are further left. I fear for what will become of this country and the world.

My hope? That I'll convert that fear into energy--energy to struggle for peace in the world and in our streets at home; to counter the damage we're doing to the earth; to pour active compassion in huge and healing quantities over the wounds of all who suffer.

This quote has been running through my mind since the election:

"Thought shall be the harder, heart the keener,
Courage shall be the more as our might lessens."

(Hige sceal the heardra, heorte the cenre, mod sceal the mare, the ure maegen lytlath.)

An ironic quote for a Friend, being that it comes from the epic poem of England's Battle of Maldon, circa 991. But what it means to me is: We who are unhappy with the outcome of the election must not settle into a cowed sense of disenfranchisement. (I've never been too happy about my country's complaisant acceptance of majority rule as "true" democracy--my Quaker background again--but it's never hit home so clearly as in this election.)

Another way of putting it, from the hymn "I Would Be True": "I would be brave, for there is much to dare."

Well. Mis dos centavos. Now for some memes.

Purloined from ceresi's journal (and those of others) some time back:

When you see this, post a song in your lj.

( Welcome Home )

And a poetry meme (a poememe!) gleaned from tuuli_chan (and others, I'm sure!):

When you see this, post a piece of poetry in your journal.

( Iba yo por un camino )

And lastly: I've updated Two Hours' Traffic again--Chapter Seven is up. Feedback, positive *or* negative, earnestly requested!