DON”T LOOK NOW

New anthology of poetry and short-form prose

I find it difficult to know how to absorb and respond to what I have witnessed on my screen and on the news over the past year. It feels like a never-ending shock wave of pain and a commentary on man’s inhumanity.

I have friends who have stopped watching, so I ask what value is my continued vigil in front of the screen? Is it voyeurism to keep my eyes open while more bodies are pulled from more rubble? My justification is that we need to stay informed so that I can sift the truth from the propaganda and the lies. I’m watchful too for compassion fatigue as night after night bombs fall on women and children who are taking shelter in ‘safe places’, yet each death, each act of brutality deserves to be noted. And mourned.

There is another image. A bigger, all-pervading image of a planet that is under threat from our carelessness, our selfishness and our lack of action. Denial has been called ‘psychological fantasy’. This is our planet and it is over-heated, losing species, heading perhaps for extinction. Soon.

Monitoring my own emotion is pretty pointless and helps no-one. What to do?
How can I register engagement and compassion, humanity and solidarity?

I want to read about your responses – small and big acts of empathy and support, anger and protest, recorded for others to read. I’m thinking of words which say how it is and how afraid we all are. And words which offer hope.

I shall do what I can do – publish a book of poems and short-form prose that records the many ways in which women, and maybe men too, respond to being witnesses to the darkest deeds. I ask you to write about small acts of kindness to ourselves, to each other, to those who suffer, to the displaced, to the bereaved. And to our planet. Record your rage and anger, show me your placards and shout about your marching. Tell me how you went out in the rain and planted a tree.

What you need to know

– At the top of your piece please write your name, the title, your contact details and where you live.

– We prefer to receive pieces that are about a page in length, though we will make exceptions.

– the deadline is currently mid-March

– Please send your submission as a word.doc to: lynnmichell0@googlemail.com