Showing posts with label quiet poet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quiet poet. Show all posts

Monday, December 25, 2023

Call for Water

  I

When thirsty, your body signals a call for water

A turn of the faucet, or a flush of the toilet, starts a call for water


The signal may require a long walk, to the well, or stream,

To return with a full yellow container to answer the call for water


The faucet at the sink will start the flow through the pipes

in the house, the street, pump, or water tower to answer the call for water


When the hot water faucet is turned, the water flows under pressure,

with a diversion through heating coils, to answer the call for water


When the toilet is flushed, the water flows carrying the refuse liquid

and, or solid, before refilling the device in the call for water


The refuse, liquid and solid, moves through gravity flow pipes

to get processed before returning to the stream to answer the call for water


  II


Science tells us human males are about 60% water, females about 55%,

which shows why we need to respond to the call for water


The earth's surface is about 70% water but 97% of that is salt water

requiring treatment before answering the call for water


We have to take care of the 3% fresh water, use it as needed,

conserve it to help with the call for water


Science can help determine a good economic process

for conversion of salt water to better answer the call for water


We need to foster those scientific efforts, and trust the science,

as it evolves to provide a solution to the call for water


There are those among us near and far, who need shorter walks,

or better access, to answer the call for water


So Sherlock, are you all wet yet? Or will you help Frank,

and Lynn when they initiate their call for water?


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originally shared at quietpoet.com/

https://www.quietpoet.com/2023/12/call-for-water.html



During 2021, I was able to record a three-part series on the Franklin water system. My conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent has aged well. Some of the numbers may change but the overall process we review doesn't change much.


The three-part audio series can be found here ->

three-part series on the Franklin water system
three-part series on the Franklin water system


During 2023, I was able to record a three-part series on the sewer side of the business. Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent, joined me again as we talked about the flushing side of the side handling our waste water.

Construction of the Beaver Street Interceptor. The houses in background are West Central Street, Panther Way area.
Construction of the Beaver Street Interceptor. The houses in background are West Central Street, Panther Way area.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Starting with poetic inspiration responding to the IPCC report, we end with how to be involved locally in Making Sense of Climate #26 (audio)

FM #969 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 969 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, April 6, 2023.  

In this episode we covered the following topics: 

  • Steve & Ted exchange greetings

  • Steve reads a recent poem he wrote partly in response to the IPCC report

  • Healy appoints new DPU

  • Oil hides behind whales to oppose wind

  • How to be involved locally 

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

Our recording runs about 49 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted 

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-969-making-sense-of-climate-25-04-06-23



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Links to articles referenced


Link to the Jorie Graham article that got me to read my own poem

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/05/jorie-graham-poet-to-2040-book/673493/


Steve’s poem “This Branch” https://www.quietpoet.com/2023/03/this-branch.html 


What does IPCC mean for MA?  https://blog.greenenergyconsumers.org/blog/the-latest-ipcc-report-what-it-means-for-massachusetts-rhode-island     


Healy appoints new DPU

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/17/science/with-new-commissioners-healey-aims-reshape-an-agency-seen-critical-climate-reforms/  


Oil uses astroturf groups to oppose wind https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/05/metro/whale-tales/ 


“Ministry for the Future” book link  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future 


Howard Miles links

https://massclimateaction.podbean.com/e/day-lighting-a-river-is-good-for-the-city-and-the-soul-the-climate-minute/

https://massclimateaction.podbean.com/e/urban-hiking-on-the-frontiers-of-climate-change-the-climate-minute/

https://www.bostontrails.org/about.html


Justin Bean link

https://www.justincbean.com/


Grid impact of Green hydrogen

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/634abba43f1e2f4dfd5e07dc/t/6400f4e00845db41f84ddc36/1677784292826/GridImpactofGreenHydrogen+-+3-6-2023.pdf


rewilding

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27032023/rewilding-animals-carbon-storage/



See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.


How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


Monday, April 10, 2023

First Poetry Workshop a success, Favorite Poem reading scheduled for Apr 29, noon to 3 PM

As part of National Poetry Month, the first of two poetry events were held at the Franklin Library. Two different workshops were conducted by Camille Bernstein and jamele adams. 

Camille's group worked on the concept of 'found poetry'. She provided bunches of textual material from which you could select your poems text and leave it in order or revise the order to make it work for you. You can find samples of her output on the Instagram accounts as follows:
jamele's group worked from a series of writing prompts that he provided. He would give the prompt, set some time for us to write the response, then if we choose to share the response. The conversation around the responses was equally as good as the responses.

The prompts and my responses can be found on my poetry page ->    https://www.quietpoet.com/2023/04/poetry-workshop-prompts-and-responses.html

As a reminder, the Senior Center has a writers group, the Senior Scribblers. We meet each Wednesday at 1 PM. Either at the Senior Center or virtually (via Zoom). Once a month (the fourth Wednesday) we meet at the TV studio to record our radio episode/podcast. If you want to get on the mailing list for the weekly meeting reminder on location (including the Zoom link), contact Steve Sherlock (shersteve at gmail.com)

Also a reminder, the second poetry event is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 from noon to 3 PM. Come to the Library to read your favorite poem. Additional details found here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/04/celebrate-national-poetry-month-with-2.html

In October 2017, there was a Favorite Poem Reading at the Senior Center. The listing of poems and readers a few days in advance of that event (I missed it) can be found ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/10/updated-readers-for-favorite-poem.html


poetry workshop participants pose for a photo
poetry workshop participants pose for a photo

Monday, August 30, 2021

"poetry reminds me of those mysterious truths that can’t be reduced solely to linear thought"

"In this weary and vulnerable place, poetry whispers of truths that cannot be confined to mere rationality or experience. In a seemingly wrecked world, I’m drawn to Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Autumn” and recall that “there is One who holds this falling/Infinitely softly in His hands.” When the scriptures feel stale, James Weldon Johnson preaches through “The Prodigal Son” and I hear the old parable anew. On tired Sundays, I collapse into Wendell Berry’s Sabbath poems and find rest.

I’m not alone in my interest in this ancient art form. Poetry seems to be making a comeback. According to a 2018 survey by the National Endowment for the Arts, the number of adults who read poetry nearly doubled in five years, marking the highest number on record for the last 15 years. The poet Amanda Gorman stole the show at this year’s presidential inauguration, and her collection “The Hill We Climb” topped Amazon’s best-seller list.

There is not a simple or singular reason for this resurgence. But I think a particular gift of poetry for our moment is that good poems reclaim the power and grace of words."
Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required) 
I wake fearful
take a breath
realize
it is a
new day, we
can do this!

For more sherku and other verse I write visit https://www.quietpoet.com/


in our age of social media, words are often used as weapons. Poetry instead treats words with care
"in our age of social media, words are often used as weapons. Poetry instead treats words with care"


Friday, May 22, 2009

Governor's visit, summarized; short and sweet

These two sherku were written as a result of Governor Patrick's visit to Franklin's Senior center on Sunday. I am working to publish the audio of the session in sections so if you missed the event, you can still listen to what was said during his visit.

Gov Patrick says

Tough state budget choices
Most of these things we will
Pay for sooner or later

What is a sherku?

This is almost a "found" poem as it an amalgam of Gov Patrick's remarks when he visited Franklin on Sunday (5/17/09).


-----------

Gov Patrick says

We better start behaving
Like we are members
Of the same community

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" poem - Governor Patrick said this during his visit to Franklin on Sunday (5/17/09).

Friday, April 3, 2009

Plan and revise

Long range planning efforts
Don’t do much good if you
Don’t keep the plan up to date


What is a sherku?


Note: I learned from the focus group meeting to review the current long range plan that there have been similar efforts before but by the third year of the five year plan, they were out dated and dropped, hence no confidence in the plan. Of course, a plan needs to be revisited regularly!

This was originally posted at quiet poet as part of my effort to celebrate National Poetry Month by creating a daily sherku.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Dark Tide - Book Review



I had published my short form book review of Dark Tide previously.

My long form of Dark Tide was published Tuesday as part of the month long Love Affair with Books on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog.

You have my permission, indeed encouragement to click on over, read it and participate in the conversation.

Dark Tide is the focal point for On the Same Page at the Franklin Library this year.