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Being kind and being generous when you can affect the world in little ways that ripple out.
Thank you, D, for the reminder of the ripple effect - it really does work.
Would you mind if I posted my poem "Lessons Not Learned" on here?
That would be really good, Walker, thank you. I love your poems.
I agree with D. Little things can go a long way.
George Santayana is quoted as saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." I have also heard it as, "Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it." We see events happening and forget things that have happened in the past. As we live part of what will later be history, we sometimes don't even think about it. Most people don't really think a lot about how today correlates to all of the yesterdays. Most don't notice where things mirror the past. "It can't happen here."
Poem from 17 May 2011 when I was thinking of current events...
Lessons Not Learned
The sordid, dismal past cries out
To ears both far and near,
Its warnings like a trumpet blast
For all who dare to hear.
The dismal dawns the despots dyed
In hues of black and red;
Our faces turn away and shun
The pictures that we dread.
The bellowed laughs and horrid shrieks
That mingled there as one,
Our minds dare not reflect to think
Of deeds that once were done.
The artist’s touch with branding iron
Showed skills that now are lost,
And mental pictures we contrive
Distort as they are glossed.
They must have thought it quite an art
To stretch one on the rack,
Inflict the limits nigh to death,
And then to bring them back.
The sordid, evil minds devised
Diverse and cruel ways
To torture those who’d dare dissent
And bring to close their days.
We think the ages dark and drear
Are distant ghosts, at best,
For surely we are civilized
And ages dark now rest.
We turn our heads and look away,
As apathy doth reign,
For we can surely shield our minds
To block out scenes of pain.
Just what excuses can we make
For closing off our minds
To dismal deeds that now are done,
To victims of all kinds?
A billion people aren’t enslaved
Just past the rising sun.
“My people love me,” comes the cry,
“Oppression there is none!”
The things we brush aside and think
We surely can ignore
Are things we do not recognize
As long, repeated lore.
Oppression? There is none to see,
For we can turn our backs
And entertain ourselves to fill
The voids we think life lacks.
Injustice lives and breathes today,
Abuses still abound;
The sordid, dismal past cries out,
But shall we hear the sound?
“How dare you now disturb my peace
With thoughts that are depressed?
I close my eyes and ears today
To those who are oppressed!”
“It cannot happen here,” you say,
But waiting in the wings,
Oppression lurks and seeks the chance
To test its viper’s stings.
“What I can’t see does not exist,
So now I close my eyes
And dream of what I won’t defend
Until at last it dies.”
In short, there are little things we should see and little things we can do. Edward Everett Hale wrote in the late 1800s, "I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
We just need to remember these things and just do what we can.
Walker wrote: "I agree with D. Little things can go a long way.
George Santayana is quoted as saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." I have also heard it as, "Those who refuse t..."
I apologize if this is a bit off topic, but I think it is a part of the improvement process.
Certainly no need to apologize, Walker - this expands the topic. It reminds us of what has gone before and points us to what we should be doing, just as I was saying. And how easy it is to close our eyes, letting what needs to be done, go undone. It's Easter Sunday as I write this and we are reminded that what we think is impossible to achieve can be achieved.
Your poetry deserves a much wider audience than my blog can give. I hope you will maybe make a collection of your poems and publish them. Be sure to let me know if you do find the time to do this.
Anna wrote: "Certainly no need to apologize, Walker - this expands the topic. It reminds us of what has gone before and points us to what we should be doing, just as I was saying. And how easy it is to close ou..."
I am very seriously considering retiring at the end of this year, so I may start writing again.
From what I have read of your writing so far, I look forward to your retiring. I hope you are already taking notes of interesting people and incidents?
Hi Anna :)
I think very simple " improvements of the world" could snowball into something amazing. We could all try a few of those acts , every day, that will, hopefully, become the " waves of kindness" that ripple through..
- allow someone to drive first at the junction
- call your friend for a chat even if you are busy
- trust your child to do the right thing instead of telling them off
etc etc
:)
Jasmine
Thank you, Dr. Jasmine. We seem to be at a time when improvements are very much needed everywhere and every little action helps as it builds up into many millions of improvements! Let's not lose hope.
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Mar 28, 2026 11:04AM
Being kind and being generous when you can affect the world in little ways that ripple out.
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Thank you, D, for the reminder of the ripple effect - it really does work.
Would you mind if I posted my poem "Lessons Not Learned" on here?
That would be really good, Walker, thank you. I love your poems.
I agree with D. Little things can go a long way.George Santayana is quoted as saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." I have also heard it as, "Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it." We see events happening and forget things that have happened in the past. As we live part of what will later be history, we sometimes don't even think about it. Most people don't really think a lot about how today correlates to all of the yesterdays. Most don't notice where things mirror the past. "It can't happen here."
Poem from 17 May 2011 when I was thinking of current events...
Lessons Not Learned
The sordid, dismal past cries out
To ears both far and near,
Its warnings like a trumpet blast
For all who dare to hear.
The dismal dawns the despots dyed
In hues of black and red;
Our faces turn away and shun
The pictures that we dread.
The bellowed laughs and horrid shrieks
That mingled there as one,
Our minds dare not reflect to think
Of deeds that once were done.
The artist’s touch with branding iron
Showed skills that now are lost,
And mental pictures we contrive
Distort as they are glossed.
They must have thought it quite an art
To stretch one on the rack,
Inflict the limits nigh to death,
And then to bring them back.
The sordid, evil minds devised
Diverse and cruel ways
To torture those who’d dare dissent
And bring to close their days.
We think the ages dark and drear
Are distant ghosts, at best,
For surely we are civilized
And ages dark now rest.
We turn our heads and look away,
As apathy doth reign,
For we can surely shield our minds
To block out scenes of pain.
Just what excuses can we make
For closing off our minds
To dismal deeds that now are done,
To victims of all kinds?
A billion people aren’t enslaved
Just past the rising sun.
“My people love me,” comes the cry,
“Oppression there is none!”
The things we brush aside and think
We surely can ignore
Are things we do not recognize
As long, repeated lore.
Oppression? There is none to see,
For we can turn our backs
And entertain ourselves to fill
The voids we think life lacks.
Injustice lives and breathes today,
Abuses still abound;
The sordid, dismal past cries out,
But shall we hear the sound?
“How dare you now disturb my peace
With thoughts that are depressed?
I close my eyes and ears today
To those who are oppressed!”
“It cannot happen here,” you say,
But waiting in the wings,
Oppression lurks and seeks the chance
To test its viper’s stings.
“What I can’t see does not exist,
So now I close my eyes
And dream of what I won’t defend
Until at last it dies.”
In short, there are little things we should see and little things we can do. Edward Everett Hale wrote in the late 1800s, "I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
We just need to remember these things and just do what we can.
Walker wrote: "I agree with D. Little things can go a long way.George Santayana is quoted as saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." I have also heard it as, "Those who refuse t..."
I apologize if this is a bit off topic, but I think it is a part of the improvement process.
Certainly no need to apologize, Walker - this expands the topic. It reminds us of what has gone before and points us to what we should be doing, just as I was saying. And how easy it is to close our eyes, letting what needs to be done, go undone. It's Easter Sunday as I write this and we are reminded that what we think is impossible to achieve can be achieved.Your poetry deserves a much wider audience than my blog can give. I hope you will maybe make a collection of your poems and publish them. Be sure to let me know if you do find the time to do this.
Anna wrote: "Certainly no need to apologize, Walker - this expands the topic. It reminds us of what has gone before and points us to what we should be doing, just as I was saying. And how easy it is to close ou..."I am very seriously considering retiring at the end of this year, so I may start writing again.
From what I have read of your writing so far, I look forward to your retiring. I hope you are already taking notes of interesting people and incidents?
Hi Anna :)I think very simple " improvements of the world" could snowball into something amazing. We could all try a few of those acts , every day, that will, hopefully, become the " waves of kindness" that ripple through..
- allow someone to drive first at the junction
- call your friend for a chat even if you are busy
- trust your child to do the right thing instead of telling them off
etc etc
:)
Jasmine
Thank you, Dr. Jasmine. We seem to be at a time when improvements are very much needed everywhere and every little action helps as it builds up into many millions of improvements! Let's not lose hope.