HAPPY NEW YEAR, the clock struck twelve, we finally made it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saw off 2019, just the year before, now feels like the days\nof yore,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stared down a new decade wide-eyed despite some frightening\nwarning signs,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mother Nature unleashed her fury, revealed the cost of\ncomplacency,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nation\u2019s burnin\u2019, painted the sky red, it\u2019s like the\nseventh circle, would\u2019ve filled Dante with dread,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reduced homes and possessions into toast, folks frustrated\nas the PM copped it most,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Firies and volunteers shone, without blinking they went\nstraight to war,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victory achieved but came at a great cost,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can\u2019t reclaim what\u2019s irreplaceable, the properties damaged\nand lives lost, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The year started rough but surely that had to be it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No way, Jos\u00e9, things are about to go to shit,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bushfires, explosions and other natural disasters, political\nunrest and discord within the royals, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forget the new Roaring 20\u2019s, get ready for an annus\nhorribilis,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A true test of mettle and patience in the face of unexpected\nsurprises,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heard whispers of a monster awakening in the Orient,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stormed the news and social media, the world carried on\ndespite warnings,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shouldn\u2019t have left that guard lowered, the monster wasn\u2019t\nmissin\u2019 it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fallout felt across continents, social hierarchies\nruined, death and destruction came, too, for the affluent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contagion <\/em>became\nreality, harkened back to bygone eras,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of plagues, pandemics and epidemics experienced by our\nelders and ancestors,<\/p>\n\n\n\n First three months seem like ancient history, unwanted\nchanges applied to daily living,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special events postponed or cancelled for the first time or\nin a while, gotta be a mind-fuck for those born in modern, gentler times,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dark chapters from history repeated, in more ways than one,<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll cover those later, let\u2019s first focus on this one,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The whole world placed in lockdown, life as we know it on\nhold,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The endgame\u2019s unknown, mentally and emotionally could be a\nslippery slope,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can\u2019t go wandering far, unless you\u2019re fixing to get fined,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handshakes, hugs and kisses can put your loved ones in strife,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Home and work life came together, school, too, for parents\nand students,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grinding to make ends meet while also playing teacher,<\/p>\n\n\n\n High-wire balancing act got \u2018em stressin\u2019, inching towards\nthe end of their tether,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Families and couples separated, the monster kept modes of\ntravel grounded,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tragic consequences for patients on the wrong side of\nborders,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The economy\u2019s in a shambles while society\u2019s crumblin\u2019, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Peep \u2018em in the supermarkets, it\u2019s a feeding frenzy in the\nocean,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grown adults fighting over toilet paper like a shiver of\nsharks on a carcass, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fuck evolution, this here\u2019s devolution, common sense and\nrational thinking obliterated, individuals regressing back to children,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asians attacked for this virus, regardless of nationality,\nbackground and culture, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fellow humans came swooping like a pack of rabid vultures,<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s back to the Chinese Exclusion Act during days of the\nBubonic Plague,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yellow Peril reincarnated, the Asian race must take the\nblame,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media headlines fuelling tensions while politicians empower\nthe ignorant,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compellin\u2019 \u2018em to acts of violence, high off of hatred and\nsubstances,<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what of doctors and scientists from the place of origin\nthat warned of the beast\u2019s presence \u2018fore they were silenced?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The everyday citizens and those affected? They didn\u2019t ask\nfor this,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treating \u2018em all like accessories to murders, are y\u2019all\nfuckin\u2019 serious?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The spread was a global effort, exacerbated by deniers and\nconspiracy theorists,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lit up tension between states, whole countries now divided,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Screw-ups rolling out the conveyor belt, hotel quarantine being\nin the thick of it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ain\u2019t going nowhere with all these divisions,<\/p>\n\n\n\n From teamwork and cooperation there can be miracles,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The battle ain\u2019t over but the light illuminates in the distance,\nonly we are responsible for the speed of its arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stir-craziness in lockdowns and existing social tensions are\nliable to explode into something serious,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kicked off with Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd lit the fuse, now\nthey\u2019re protesting on the evening news,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Five-O swore an oath to serve and protect, but does it apply\nonly to certain lives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n For folks of certain skin tones it seems like one giant lie,<\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re marching in the streets crying no justice no peace,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Juneteenth ended slavery yet oppression still permeates\nsociety,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disbelief simmered for too long, can barely keep the lid on,<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the midst of Covid and economic ruin, the contents\nexplode \u2018round the kitchen,<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s all out anarchy, businesses are plundered and burning,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shades of Watts and L.A, even Greenwood and Wilmington,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The anger\u2019s understandable, must be exhausting constantly\nlooking over shoulders,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfairly branded a criminal based on stereotypes on race and\nskin color,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The message is noble, it\u2019s time to end racism, but y\u2019all\nbehind the movement dropped the ball with your actions,<\/p>\n\n\n\n How will lootin\u2019 ease the problem? Even black-owned\nbusinesses are targeted,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fighting fire with fire, innocent lives the collateral\ndamage, like scenes from a war movie, what good will come out of this? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The picking and choosing among y\u2019all is startling, does\nevery Black Life really matter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rage is palpable for victims of cops and Caucasians,\nwhat of lives lost in gang crime and violence y\u2019all started?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Y\u2019all turned certain victims into heroes and martyrs, even if\nthey were proven criminals,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shouldn\u2019t have ended six-feet under or seriously injured,\nshould have known better, that cops got nervous trigger fingers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where\u2019s the marching for David Dorn and Patrick Underwood?\nFor Oluwatoyin Salau and Bernell Trammell too?<\/p>\n\n\n\n That lil\u2019 kid from Chicago and Secoreia Turner? And while\nwe\u2019re at it what about young Cannon Hinnant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lost their lives to black-on-black crime and BLM riots, black-on-white\nfor Cannon, the latter three were children, why don\u2019t any of their lives matter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n How\u2019s gaslighting POCs into playing victim helpin\u2019 while\nforcin\u2019 guilt upon White individuals? <\/p>\n\n\n\n How\u2019s antagonizing other races a solution? What happened to\n\u2018anti-racism\u2019?<\/p>\n\n\n\n And why are y\u2019all beefin\u2019 with free-thinking Black men and\nwomen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n How are education and manners traitorous? Unlike y\u2019all\nthey\u2019re rising above their own bullshit experiences,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Miss \u2018em with that victim mentality, finding real solutions\nleave no time for hate and hypocrisy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n No doubt bad seeds exist in law enforcement, a solution\u2019s\noverdue and we\u2019re sick of waiting,<\/p>\n\n\n\n But good ones still exist among the ranks, leave \u2018em be they\ndon\u2019t deserve your wrath, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Realize, too, that racists come from all backgrounds and\ncolors as do the victims,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stereotypes and labels based on appearances gotta be done\nwith, period,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Social and economic ruin\u2019s accelerated thanks to y\u2019all, if\nthat was the goal then mission accomplished,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2020 lit up many fires and counting and y\u2019all are the ones\ndumping gasoline and lighter fluid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cancel Culture\u2019s presence exploded, invaded the minds of the\nbored and insominiac,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Us VS Them is where it\u2019s at, non-conformists be damned, <\/p>\n\n\n\n The extreme ends of both sides guilty, firing shots at one\nanother daily,<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the eyes of the sane and rational y\u2019all are equally\nloony,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Opposing facts rejected even when valid, what\u2019s wrong with\naddressin\u2019 all sides?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Folks be triggered by counter-arguments, brawling over\nbeliefs and lifestyles,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peeps softer than tissue paper, children display greater\nlevels of resilience, pushing back will shake foundations then demo the whole\nbuilding,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Calling others \u2018sheep\u2019 is green lit, as is throwing stones from\nbehind that glass,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cancel those that live and think otherwise, foolish words that\nfit the narrative get a pass,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attempts to rewrite history by cancelling the ugly chapters,\ny\u2019all living in Germany under Hitler?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stalinist Russia? Castro\u2019s Cuba? What are the positives of\ncensorship and propaganda?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suppressing parts history rather than learning from it, tell\nus, what are its benefits?<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s some 1984 shit, it\u2019s a disservice to future\ngenerations,<\/p>\n\n\n\n And censoring counter-thinkers? How\u2019s that advocating free\nspeech and tolerance? <\/p>\n\n\n\n That serves to suggest that y\u2019all will crumble when you find\nyour views challenged,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Others are starving and dying, the monster\u2019s still running\nrampant, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Left wing, right wing, y\u2019all are on the same bird, ponder\nthat in between your whining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All eyes on the Divided States beyond Epstein and his\nminions,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four years in the making, guaranteed to get the entire world\ntalking,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tokyo 2020 called off in a hurry while this one\u2019s immune to\ncancellation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stole the thunder from headlines worldwide, this here\u2019s the\nelection,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Battle between geezers, one questionable and the other vile,\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n A showdown for the ages, pun intended, between the bellicose\nand senile,<\/p>\n\n\n\n No golfing or swapping war stories over a barbecue, hold the\nwhiskey, hookers, viagara and chialis, though the insults and trash-talking\nwere nothing short of childish,<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was only going one way, the world saw it coming, Donnie\npissed off one too many, came back to haunt him against Joey,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defeat\u2019s a bitter pill for the egotistical, can\u2019t do nothing\n\u2018bout it, though,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Questions raised, also, regarding how that\nsoon-to-be-Octogenarian will go,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory lapses and foot-in-mouth syndrome, these be troubling\nsigns,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Body\u2019s breaking down, too, better have medics on stand-by,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Month-long clown shit over with, the people have spoken,<\/p>\n\n\n\n No surprises, though, if they\u2019ll soon be saluting Madam\nPresident Harris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it need not be all bad, there exists some silver\nlinings,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look beyond the headlines and block out doomsayers, you\u2019ll\nfind what\u2019s worth celebrating,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The absence of cars and public transport turned out to be\nnature\u2019s perfect tonic,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Started healing itself, the air, land and sea, the reduction\nin pollution\u2019s drastic,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The time\u2019s right to pursue that long held dream, no more\nexcuses,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turning lockdown into a blessing, a year for fine\nentrepreneurship,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Opportunities for growth and learning, plenty of time for\nsoul-searching,<\/p>\n\n\n\n True passions and talents are discovered, for some better\nlate than never,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creative juices flowin\u2019, conspired to unleash inner\nentertainers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kept the public in stitches with at-home lockdown antics,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Family ties rekindled, got all the time in the world for bonding,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The monster held the world captive but could never dampen\nspirits,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frontliners shone like true heroes, forget the comic books\nand sports reports,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fighting fires and assisting the sick and unfortunate, they\nrose to the occasion,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trying times stripped bare individuals, true colors done\nexposed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n But real ones still walk among us, shining bright as beacons\nof courage and hope,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2020 draws to a close, there\u2019s two ways to look back on it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n As one to forget or the gauntlet that sharpened fortitude\nand character,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moment of silence for the departed, sympathies to those hurt\nby losses,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respect to the warriors on the front line, but to you too\nfor crossing the finish line,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did what you had to do to get by, went about your biz and\nraised your kids,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fought to keep that head above water, you\u2019re still swimming,\nlife doled out tests and examinations and you passed \u2018em with flying colors,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Credit, too, to the young and the students, toughed it out\nin unpredictable conditions, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your determination served y\u2019all well in addition to your\nteachers and parents,<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s time for new beginnings, start drafting those resolutions,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some hopes and wishes going forward, for the world and its\ninhabitants,<\/p>\n\n\n\n That nature will be respected, without it we are nothing,\n\u2018bout time we treat it right, gotta stop pollutin\u2019 it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n That cleanliness and hygiene continue to be practiced, we\nsaw some dire consequences,<\/p>\n\n\n\n That nothing or no one will be taken for granted, that friendships,\nrelations and families continue to be cherished,<\/p>\n\n\n\n That the little things won\u2019t go unnoticed, the smallest\nsparks can also make a difference,<\/p>\n\n\n\n No need for a dance floor, DJ or fireworks, but do take time\nto savour and appreciate \u2018em,<\/p>\n\n\n\n That folks stop arguing for the sake of being right, instead\nwork towards a common ground that feels right,<\/p>\n\n\n\n That the unaware are taught and educated rather than\nbullied, mocked and belittled,<\/p>\n\n\n\n That the sins of the wretched are not dumped on their\ncommunity, why should the innocent pay for their iniquities? <\/p>\n\n\n\n That folks be measured by their character, rather than\nculture, background, beliefs or skin color,<\/p>\n\n\n\n That people can still come together despite differing\nlifestyles, values and opinions, <\/p>\n\n\n\n That the media will be responsible, as will politicians and\nleaders,<\/p>\n\n\n\n To hell with divisions and manipulation, fuckin\u2019 hell can we\nall just work together?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps it\u2019s wishful thinking, hoping that enough can strive\nto make an effort,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Need not require heavy lifting, just good old-fashioned\ndedication,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Strap yourselves ready, time to\nleave 2020 in the pages of history, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bring on 2021, make it a great one, no turning back now, let\u2019s\nget into it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" HAPPY NEW YEAR, the clock struck twelve, we finally made it, Saw off 2019, just the year before, now feels like the days of yore, Stared down a new decade wide-eyed despite some frightening warning signs, Mother Nature unleashed her fury, revealed the cost of complacency, The nation\u2019s burnin\u2019, painted the sky red, it\u2019s like … <\/p>\n