“Second Road To Wisdom – B – Openness” [Reflections on Louise Penny Inspector Gimache books, Passim]
One problem that’s heard here in the South,
Flows out of power’s revealing mouth –
The subtle stance of “self-made-man”,
Like children’s yarn, “I think I can!”.But Oji-Cree’s reverse of this –
First person is not “I” – insists
An ancient culture on a turf
That’s cruel – survival’s way’s reversed:The “You’s” first person in their tongue,
And “they” or “them’s” the second one
(And third, and fourth, for they have five
To let their stories come alive)”.Then somewhere down the line, there’s “Me”,
Or “I” – the butt of jokes in Cree;
For that is how they raise their kids –
“Laugh at oneself to anger rid”.Now needing help is scorned in South –
“That’s welfare-way – live hand to mouth
And mooch off our successful ways;
Despicable’s what power says.“You want my help? Then pay for it!
That’s how life works – if you would fit
Into our southern way of life,
Be self-contained, pull purse-strings tight”.“I’m needing help,” we never say;
It’s just not part of southern way
(Until a storm blows over land,
Then briefly, we might, under-stand –But not for long, despite relief
We feel in crisis – snowdrifts deep,
Or flood, tornado’s, wild-fires burn –
With climate-change, perhaps will learn.”Thanks Holy Spirit for this.
navigation