<![CDATA[Michael Allyn Wells - Poet Home Website - Poet Notes]]>Wed, 04 May 2022 02:41:38 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[I Stand With Ukraine]]>Mon, 28 Mar 2022 01:41:35 GMThttp://michaelwells.ink/poet-notes/i-stand-with-ukraine
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]]><![CDATA[Putin Steps Up Deadly Attacks on Civilians]]>Mon, 21 Mar 2022 01:00:17 GMThttp://michaelwells.ink/poet-notes/putin-steps-up-deadly-attacks-on-civiliansWar continues in Ukraine, as much as I wish that were not true, it is reality and a very sad fact at that.  Putin can call it what he wants if it helps him justify it in his own mind, but much of what goes on in Putin's mind these days is suspect of  lapses of both insight and judgment.  

I note that many a poet and writer is witnessing this human tardily on paper. History will have no shortage of accounts of the horrific and totally unnecessary loss of life. There will be very detailed accounts of war crimes as at this point, much of what happens on the ground falls into this category. Civilians are being targeted daily. Women and Children are playing a high price as the casualties mount.

It is important to keep in mind this is Putin's war. He brought this war to the Ukrainian people in their own country. Ukraine has had to defend their homeland. They have not  attacked Russia. The major reason for Ukraine's problem with Russia was that Russia has feared Ukraine would join NATO. If there was even a justification for Ukraine in NATO, it is because of Putin himself. 

Casualties are difficult to factually gauge.  Reports are between 7,000 and 14,000 Russian soldiers. Their ground fight has been effectively slowed and stopped in some places by determined Ukrainian fighters. In the meantime, Putin has turned to brutal air strikes flattening  parts of cities with heavy losses of women and children. Clearly actions that are war crimes.  10 Million Ukrainians have been displaced, many to neighboring friendly companies. 
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]]><![CDATA[Ukrainians Brutally Attacked By Russians]]>Sat, 12 Mar 2022 05:12:57 GMThttp://michaelwells.ink/poet-notes/ukrainians-brutally-attacked-by-russians
PictureSource:NY Times
EVGENIY MALOLETKA/ASSOCIATED PRESS
There are international calls  for an investigation after a Russian airstrike hit a maternity hospital in the besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

International Red Cross reports citizens are hunkered down (see above photo) amid growing Russian attacks. Food, water and medicine is in short supply. 

Kyiv is a beautiful city in Ukraine. At least it has been. I've heard some say, "skip Paris, see Kyiv."  I can't tell you how much longer its beauty will shine. 

You would have to have had your head in the sand not to know that this land, that has people equally beautiful, in in the midst of a war brought on by an Invasion by Russian forces at the direction of Vladimir Putin. 

You also, might not realize this if you are a Russian living at home. The official story line is that this is not a War and it was not an Invasion. 

If Truth be told, and it should be this has in fact been an Invasion by Russia and it is not only a war, but has been the subject of some of the most heinous war crimes against civilians, women and children by Russian troops. 

​This week a maternity hospital and school was shelled and there were casualties. Civilians trying to take their children and flee to neighboring countries such as Poland have been targeted with shelling - keeping them pinned down without water and food and in some instance utilities as they have been intentionally shut off. The international community has since imposed sanctions on Russia  as response to the attack.  Russia largely stands alone. Putin has isolated himself and his countrymen, by way of this war. 

The Russian economy is tanking. Stark Market has been closed since Feb. 25th because it was in free fall. The Ruble is basically worthless. 

Russians have not seen the worst of their economic woes. As Putin bares down on the Ukrainian people, the world wide indignation is driving  the Russian economy deeper into the ground. Putin apparently doesn't care about. the average Russian as he would rather Invade a country and let his own people be subjected to a poverty standard of living. 

Writers everywhere must tell the truth about this war. Putin's lies to his own people are maintained by silencing Russian news outlets.

I will be doing a Follow-up piece on how you can help the Ukrainian people in this time of unparalleled need.
]]><![CDATA[Poetry Bits - notes from my journal - January 2022]]>Sat, 12 Feb 2022 20:30:18 GMThttp://michaelwells.ink/poet-notes/poetry-bits-notes-from-my-journal-january-2022Small bits and pieces from my January journal--
  • Sometimes I think I'd like to OCD people who have to have everything in a proper place.  What writer or artist does this anyway?
  • "US: how we believed in romantic endings, the cinema swell of happiness. And now." -- Julie E. Bloemeke
  • "...tears of joy and sadness..." 
  • reading keeps getting kicked to the side
  • ​listening to some of my favorite music - they are almost all love songs and many of them set my heart afloat on a sea...
  • Madison under weather this morning
  • emotionally sort of melancholy today trying not to slip lower
  • Prayers... lots of them 
  • have over 90 works pending with publishers
  • More prayers multiple times a day...
]]><![CDATA[February 3rd, 2022 - Butterfly Thoughts]]>Thu, 03 Feb 2022 22:37:03 GMThttp://michaelwells.ink/poet-notes/february-3rd-2022-butterfly-thoughts
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 Yes, we got like 4 inches of snow yesterday and this picture should appear to be a mismatch for a February day. 

Sometimes things are not quite what they seem. By that, I mean the obvious. Butterflies often represent an opening, a new beginning, something different than what perhaps preceded it. Often, it will represent a rebirth. Sometimes with religious significance but other times a person can take ahold of their life and find who they are - and perhaps have been all along but didn't realize it. With that realization can come change. The butterfly was once a goofy caterpillar. But that was then and this is now. Even as a caterpillar no one knew it.  At some point, deep down inside, one can realize that  they were always going to be a butterfly in spite of what anyone thought or said. 
]]><![CDATA[A Witness to These Times]]>Sat, 29 Jan 2022 01:23:49 GMThttp://michaelwells.ink/poet-notes/a-witness-to-these-times
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Jan. 27 2022 Ukraine-Russia border crisis 3 days ago Jan. 27 2022 Ukraine-Russia border crisis cnn.com
So much is happening all about us right  now that these times are ripe for witness poetry.  Tensions on the Ukrainian boarder with Russia. United States and NATO posturing in defense of Ukraine. The implications across Europe are are far reaching. 

The latest Covid variant, Omicron is claiming more infections in greater numbers and a rise in hospitalizations and deaths at the same time.

​We seem to be having more catastrophic disasters that most likely are linked to climate change issues. 

​The conditions of women and children in Afghanistan after the U.S. pullout are cause for concern.  

But, these are but a drop in the bucket of things that are impacting people.  The human condition is yearning. to be observed, recorded, told for the future. 

Poets have plenty to bare  witness too. I hope someone is recording these challenging times.  It's a poet's responsibility to be a witness. 
]]><![CDATA[This time of year-]]>Mon, 27 Dec 2021 00:29:59 GMThttp://michaelwells.ink/poet-notes/this-time-of-yearThis time of year always seems to bring a mixture of joy and sadness. The spirit of the holiday seasons no matter if you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or of any other belief denote a massage of love and hope. While there are elements of joy associated with the season, in many places individuals face harsh weather without the normal elements of comfort not do to anything other than current misfortune. 

The stark difference between the joy and the sadness do not go unnoticed by most of us. I think poets may actually be more keenly aware of those who divergent emotions and how they apply to real life situation involving real live people.

​I am thinking of one such person tonight that means so much to me, though I am sure there are many. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them, that they may find the resources to maintain utilities and be safe from the elements of their weather in living quarters compromised by lack of utilities.  And for those on the streets as homeless, too. 

I would ask us each to offer our own prayers for these people as I do for my friend as well. 
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