“It’s been the worst day since yesterday.” Flogging Molly (Song: ‘It’s been the Worst Day’)
As I write and reflect I feel the weight of 2020 differently to other years – Paul
2020 This hard year offered her slender mean hand, in a moment of my dystopic moodiness I took her brittle bones and together we wandered to the very edge of my sanity. In a moment of my dystopic moodiness the vast ancient well-spring of grief opened wide, wandered to the very edge of my sanity, only bitter herbs assuaged her dark love. The vast ancient well-spring of grief opened wide, her obsequies ever solemnised with rites of sorrow, only bitter herbs assuaged her dark love gleaned by the threshing floor. Her obsequies ever solemnised with rites of sorrow, I took her brittle bones and together we gleaned by the threshing floor, this hard year offered her slender mean hand. ©Paul Vincent Cannon
parallax 
“Her slender mean hand” is such an unexpected metaphor for 2020. I had to stop and think about it.
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I have found this to be a most challenging year. I didn’t intend the poem at all, it just appeared, but as it came I knew it was sitting in me waiting. Thank you for reflecting on it Liz.
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I’ve found it a very challenging year as well, in part because I’ve been relatively unaffected by the pandemic as far as my personal circumstances are unconcerned.
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Same here, we’ve had a dream run so far, but I think it has accentuated other griefs and so many sadnesses have occurred including trump.
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Hopefully the world will take it as a cautionary lesson never to put a sociopath in charge of a country. The damage they can do is incalulable.
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Yes, though that is my personality type, but not my clinical behaviour (phew), they are completely lethal.
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You capture it well. Her hand is mean indeed. I feel like each of us has been taken to the edge.
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I found it a difficult year, and yet we’ve had it so easy here with covid, but it has deepened every other personal grief as I experience it. But then Trump, and then other fools, and the environment …. sigh.
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Me too Paul. I live mostly isolated because of my disease, so not much different there, but for some reason this feels more difficult, more restraining – plus the anxiety. Take care…we’re almost through it.
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Yes, we nearly there. What troubles me is the fixation on the economy which will drive reckless political decision making. I’m proud of our state premiers who have stood against the Federal govt and protected population. I was listening to one of my fave people – Parker Palmer who pondered why nations break when economies are challenged, leaving the question of how to better enable community rather than economy.
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This whole pandemic has been a test of our collective compassion and humanity. Some our passing, others failing terribly.
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Yes, I’ve noted that too, the few that are selfish stand out here.
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Brilliant and so it goes on.
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Thank you Tracy, it has been a bastard year. I must apologise for not getting to your blog.
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No worries, Paul. I’m pretty mute at the moment.
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Hoping next year will be better!
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I hope so. A few olive branches wouldn’t go astray too.
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I had a naughty thought that went along the lines of inserting said branches.
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🙂
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I’m still not sure I’ve grasped the grim reality of 2020. But on the other hand, neither has Trump. Take him away quickly now, someone.
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I’d take him round the country and tout him along with the bearded lady and the muscle man, I could retire on that pocket money 🙂
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I like it!
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Lol, best to make use of a bad thing 🙂
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Me too, Paul! 😉 A wonderful summary of this special year. Michael
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I’m sure we’d make a few dollars Michael 😉
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“…to the very edge of my sanity…”, say the least. Hope it will get better next year.
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Yes, fingers crossed for a better year.
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2020 wasn’t hard for me I can say because instead of following the cares of this world and stayed following Christ , Ive been Blessed. I hate the mask and when I put it on , It makes not to be able to breath at all and I know why. It’s because God didn’t want me to Follow the Leader just Him. I have been around many of covid victim’s including my aunt and covid hasn’t never touched me. While on my way to work 5am in the morning and God spoke and I pulled over and I walked and cried. What He said was ” Only 1 % was chose to be His Chosen One’s, 5 % was meant to lead and the other’s haven t woke up, they are still asleep meaning they still following the cares of the world. Just like the devil wanted to be casted out into the den of pig’s and sent to the lake….Pigs can’t swim right💁🏼they drowned. This pandemic happened for a reason ” To see who followed who “. 2020 may have been a mess but It wasn’t for me🙏
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Nice place or space to inhabit.
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Yes Sir Indeed It Is🤓
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🙂
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I Loved the poem Mr Paul sorry for the long message🤓
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No problem, long messages are for reading 🙂
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Sometimes I can go on and on cause I have a library of stories to share🤓
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Then you must speak your story 🙂
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This is probably the best pantoum I’ve ever read. It flowed so easily and is written masterfully,
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Thank you for the wonderful response, very much appreciated 🙂
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2020 definitely opened many wells of dark love. She offers what she can with the little means left and hopes we see the true light thru the darkness. Great words to stir thought.
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Thank you Astrid, yes indeed, let’s hope we do see.
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Well described and love this form that you introduced me too
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I think it is one of the best for me, thank you.
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