Cross Cultural Related Poems
Volume I
A. The Fun And Games At Diagnosis Stage Section
The Apostle - Oct/30/08 Boundary Crossing Freedom.
Because It's Time - Dec.03/08 Foreshortened life from a cross cultural viewpoint
Tina - Dec.06/08 Early childhood influences from people of other cultures and euthanasia - the inconvenience of dependent people.
Crossing Cultural Time - Dec/23/08 Words softened through media use by time.
Christmas 1946 - Dec/25/08 Christmas reflection on my early life on the reserve with scanty health care and strong community.
Of What Remains? - Dec/29/08 Christmas, the dominant culture's season of giving, raises profound issues in face of one's impending death.
The "ology" of "Med'sun" - Dec/31/08 Faceless (institutionalized) evil and historic controls on medical powers in various cultures, in light of "exit-voice-and loyalty" philosophy.
The Swordsman - Jan/07/09 Antique cultural relics and their value in current society.
"Barrack Obama" - Jan/21/09 Barrack Obama's "Third Culture Kid" perspective and the problem (vs. potential) of its not being recognized.
"Faith" - Jan/23/09 The financial crisis (personal and agricultural) in the dominant society and the future role of euthanasia in it all.
"Derby Fanfare" - Jan/23/09 The societal destruction of (economic) hope - such a critical player in health recovery and maintenance.
"The Windows Of My Soul" - Jan/23/09 Reflection on the "four windows" perspective about our limited self-understanding.
"Rural Chapel" - Jan/23/09 Rural and Urban life in Manitoba are linked, particularly between Ag chemicals and urban cancer, and the two economies.
"Terminal Generation" - Jan/25/09 Jung's reflections on passing on cultural and family legacies (or not) to our children and community.
"Resonances" - Feb/6/09 The deep multi-generational connections which we inherit and pass on.
"Louis Riel Day (Indian Health Care Song)" - Feb/16/09 A song focused on the experience of getting thrown in with the "lower tier" folks in the health care system (which I now see the poems to date reflect), and not liking it at all.
"Income vs. Outgo" - Apr/09/09The impact of knowing that someone knows and cares about the person being dealt with, especially across cultural boundaries
B. A Shift In Locus Of Control Section
C. A Shift In Locus Of Operation Section
"Between A Rock And A Card Place" - Feb/24/09 The need to clean up our environment globally (of carcinogens) and locally (with our debt economy) to avoid catastrophic problems with widespread cancer etc.
"Crossing Cultural Lines (And Third Culture Kids)" - Mar/22-23/09 A review of the 90 poems to date surfaces the cultural crossing issue and its energy-sapping effects in relational areas of life.
"Genetic Train" - Apr/06/09 Reflection time when awaiting test results -- on continuity of life over generations and our place and outlook in it -- including survival of cross-cultural conflicts.
"Forthright Authenticity" - Apr/07/09Freedom in speech/photography/art and action (within and across cultural boundaries) comes from forthright authenticity rather than pretense at perfection/external standards The reality which enables this is forgiveness.
"The Transition (Start Of Costa Rica Trip) " - Apr/13/09The dificulty and success of pushing through cross cultural adjustment to the rewards on the other side.
"Panama " - Apr/15/09An account of an amazing man who made it through enormous cross-cultural and personal challenges and now wishes to encourage others.
"Incidents In Our Paths " - Apr/16/09The challenge of helping others especially in economic development across cultures at a more than superficial level is a great one.
"New Lease On Life " (End of the Costa Rica Trip)- Apr/19/09A reflection on the claim that sudden shifts to another venue (including across cultures) have healing effects in light of this recient trip.
"The Allergy In Perfection " - Apr/20/09A reflection on the root of interpersonal/inter-cultural conflict and its relolution
"Life-Giving Memory " - Apr/22/09 Our use of the ordinary things that others don't have is refreshment to others often. Alzheimer's patients appreciate the memory of others, and notice how they use it or don't. Marginalized folks of all types appreciate being remembered and loved.
Re-integration Of Photography Into Life – In Relation To Cancer Section :
"The Tumblin' Roamin' catholic " - Apr/24/09-AMReflection just before the start of Art Therapy classes - and the role of stress and restlessness caused by cross cultural conflict in my life in relation to Cancer.
"Ambassador Of Friendship " - Apr/24/09-AMA reflection on the prsonal challenge of meeting new people, with cross-cultural dimension as one aspect - and my past responses to this challenge -- just before teh start of art therapy group.
"That Pesky End Of Time " - Apr/25/09The ongoing challenge of becoming overwhelmed by the immediate challenges of life during recovery, and of keeping one's perspective. Insight can come from folks dealing with the issue from a different cultural perspective.
"Second Chance " - Apr/30/09Reflection on the larger sweep of my life, past, present, and future, in relation to Victor Frankle's book "Man's Search for Meaning" and his insight into the role of meaning in one's survival in strife -- with the cross-cultural dimension so predominate in my own case.
"The Picture Lived " - May/02/09Reflections on the Cree vs. English approaches to Group Therapy and my particular preference for Cree.
"Psalm 22's Love Passed Along " - May/03/09Health has inner and outer physical preventive aspects, which have social-spiritual dimensions. And ancient Psalm along these lines updated from the point of view of an outsider to the culture whose poet penned the thought.
"Ooops... " - May/05/09 One root of curtural and racial steriotyping – thinking we know what we are seeing – A reflection on a missed appointment and the problems of miscommunication, error, and human frailty.
"Prayer For A Friend " - May/06/09Prayer is Prayer in any culture, regardless of its format.
"First Anniversary Of Diagnosis" - May/08/09Art Therapy's profound impact on the first anniversary of diagnosis; cross cultural tension aspect seen.
"My Mistake Last Week" - May/09/09Recognigtion of the sexual side of colon Cancer, and some subtle mental connections personally with an earlier life-incident, which go beyond the cross-cultural dynamic.
"Don't Be Afraid" - May/10/09 Some benefits of the dynamic uncovered in art therapy and some details of the earlier precipitating incident with reference to the discovery of TCK dynamic while in exile from community.
"The Creenglish Side Of Freedom" - May/10/09Reflection on the cross-cultural stressor factor and its distinction from race.
"The Picture" - May/10/09The challenge and benefit of giving and receiving feedback in group work (art therapy). People from various cultures have amazing insights and perception.
"Perspective" - May/10/09Some reflections on anger and its effects in any culture.
"Inside Looking out" - May/11/09A current incident on the internet of site-abuse and its implications for open and honest sharing in a troubled world in the global village.
"Inside-Outside" - May/20/09 Reflection on life outside community.
"The Presence" - May/20/09Reflection on integrety of thought and life, and taking a chance on people, in and across cultural boundaries...and its effects.
"This Wrinkled Clay" - May/23/09The experience of photographing a clay piece in virtual black and white brings yet another piece of photography "home", its joy in sharp contrast to the public speaking task a few days hence, and the concept of First Nations' "Elder"
"The Sun, The Moon, And The Stars" (A Costa Rican Expression) " - May/25/09 Grappling with the effects of secondary medical bad news and the faces of fellow travelers on this journey. The place of cross-cultural tensions in workplace and their place in the stress involved in this larger situation, and its resolution.
"Testosterone At 60 " - May/26/09 From teen years, males like to arrive under power...it's sexier
The Start of Stu-Art Output Section :
"Communion " - May/26/09 The power of symbols within or across cultures is not necessarily permanent, and frequently needs refreshing.
"Four Things We Need - 1 - Daily Bread " - May/26/09Jesus suggested that we need to ask for 4 things on a daily basis. Food is so vital to live in every culture.
"Four Things We Need - 2 - Forgiveness" - May/26/09Jesus suggested that we need to ask for 4 things on a daily basis. Forgiveness is a large part of life at the boundaries of cultures, as a stress reducer.
"Four Things We Need - 3 - Deliverance From Temptation" - May/26/09Jesus suggested that we need to ask for 4 things on a daily basis. Temptation is strong to capitulate to a dominant surrounding culture,but to do so deprives on from the very power one needs to live victoriously.
"Four Things We Need - 4 - Deliverance From Evil " - May/26/09 Jesus suggested that we need to ask for 4 things on a daily basis. Evil seem to be prevalent amongst the poor and culturally marginalized.
"Tempo In The Town" - May/28/09Finding and addressing the cultural and sub-cultural tempos around us is key to harmonious and stress-free living.
"Second Careers" - May/28/09Time is viewed differently across cultures. Though cycles of obsolescence have increased stress and decreased the opportunity to hone crafts, modern life has also given time for second careers in the period of extended life span.
"Acceptance" - May/28/09 Cross-cultural rejection is a widespread phenomenon. A reflection of acquisition and preservation of artifacts (junk), and its relationship to hearing "I love you" in one "love language".
"Victory Lap" - May/30/09The themes of photo expression (now freed through art therapy) and leaving a trail, merge with the experience of doing a victory lap in an earlier bad experience even while things looked bleak. The relentless cyclic nature of the disease is pictured as driving the truck on the victory lap. Both poetry and photographic expression of it are fed by my cross-cultural perspective.
" 'How Then Will Jesus Get Down?' " - May/31/09 The role of images in health is well documented. - An image given in story time at Church gave a young mother a tool with which to raise her child, with a mystery for him to grow up into - not all images need to be understood to be effective, sometime its power is in its mystery. First Nations know this well for example in the vision quest phenomenon.
"O Lord Your Spirit" - May/31/09Mid Week healing refreshment of a music leader at the lake prior to leading worship. First Nations people speak of the healing effect of the natural world
"Third Layer" - May/31/09Yet another layer of the traumatic "onion" is peeled back and examined. This layered pain with its interconnections is conducive to artistic output.What is described here is layered often on cross-cultural pain.
"Fifty-one Percent" - June/1/09Getting organized on limited energy is a chore which has cultural implications based on perceptions of time.
"Blessing From Pain" - June/2/09 A visit to a river sanctuary with a realization that as good comes after the flood, so good can come out of pain.
"The Painter" - June/5/09 Any art-form can have the added benefits of message carrying in difficult situations, including cross-cultural boundaries which seem impermeable..
"John" - June/5/09 Dreams have a large part to play in all art forms, especially in some cultures.
"The Choice" - June/6/09 Nothing like having to make a simulated choice to clarify one's resolved issue s...Photographing beautiful scenes and people is much preferred to riding around the desert on a horse (whether it has a name or not).Third culture kids are world citizens...not tied to a locale.
"Who Is This Man?" - June/7/09 There are unexpected benefits when we reach out to strangers with quiet accepting generosity, both within and across cultural boundaries.
"Having Gone" - June/7/09 The imperative to mentor / disciple others in life across cultures as we ourselves go about life wherever that may be .
"Location's False Promise" - June/7/09A reflection on the need to live in the present with a focus on people rather than place or task, as living authentically, with joy is winsome to others. The whirl of life provides sufficient shift of location.
"The Picture Window " - June/18/09 The theme of Sex and its connection to photography and cancer explored as the puzzle resolves and photography re-enters my life-stream once more. The interplay of the "third culture kid" dynamic and its role in the puzzle, as well as the cost of crossing of cultural boundaries are articulated.
"Money's Use " - June/19/09 Reflection on the Cost of this last round (of Cancer) and the use of money in my life, with reference to my role in life from here in light of the recent findings. Connecting people to their cultural bases is critical for growth and healing.
"Redemption " - June/23/09 Initial awareness of the Spirit's presence in life in the midst of a "land claims dispute" is somehow appropriate for this TCK.
F. Concluding Poem of Volume I
Volume II
From Conclusion Section (# 172-209):
" 2-4-6-8 " - July/4/09 Reflection on the clash between Scottish and Cree outlooks on life in regards to proactive striving.
" The Quarterback " - July/10/09Inspiration gained, across a cultural boundary, by another person facing MS to move on in life.
" 'The Triumph Of Hope Over Reality' " - July/12/09 Reference to Apostolic (cross-cultural) ministry as opposed to Pastoral or teaching ministry.
" Resonances " - July/15/09Reflection on Metis Poet Gregory Scofield's Poetic readings. Reference to how Metis People can speak into the lives of both Dominant and First Nations groups even though those two groups might feel mutual animosity and therefore cannot hear directly from each other.
" A Week Now Since His Quiet Laugh " - July/17/09 Visit to referring doctor. Need to keep stress down in relation to recurrence of cancer. Reference to clash of cultures in current UCC organization.
" If You Had Fifty Days To Live " - July/17/09 Using (from another culture) the image of counting the 50 days an "Omar" (bushel) of barley grew from Passover to Pentecost, the question is raised as to what one could grow in one's life in such a period if that was all that remained of life.
" Freedom's Choice " - July/19/09 Use of media in creating healthy communities in which to grow, and the power of choice of response which cannot be removed from us.Reference to cross cultural learning processes.
" The Snap Of Others' Work " - July/22/09 Dropping stress by stopping inappropriate involvement in other people's lives, within and outside one's culture.
" Lies' Eyes " - July/24/09 Honesty whether in facing death or living relationships in community is refreshing and health giving, in and across cultural boundaries.
" The Runner " - July/24/09 Reference to the encouraging effects of a support group/ community (in and across cultures) in recovery from cancer.
" Some Serve" - July/24/09 The powerful effects of (often unseen) people who help in recovery of health by linking people (within and across cultures)together for mutual support.
"Pandemic Of Silence" - July/26/09 Dream of pandemic with handful of survivors raises questions of forming new future life for humanity, within which are implications for our smaller scale life after cancer (eg. whose culture? All of it?).
"Silence In Economics" - July/26/09 Prayer for those engaged in the economic system , especially our children, who often live beyond our day to day presence in the Global village.
"Isaiah's Band" - July/26/09 The clash of cultures within a Canadian church.
"Making Peace" - July/26/09 The clash of cultures, the inter-gift/culture allergy, and the way peace is made and maintained.
"Saying Grace" - July/26/09 A couple crosses cultures to build orphanages in Kenya as an expression of their faith.
"Avocation" - July/31/09 The assistance gained in sorting out vocation from avocation in making community contributions (in this case a cross-cultural missions effort) within which one has no or little say, but works under another's direction.
"TGIS (Thank God It's Sunday)" - August/2/09 Shifts in the type of work bring exhaustion, especially out of one's strength areas, for which a day off each week is welcome relief, God's gift to humanity through Jews and Christ to our cultures.
"Forty Years" - August/2/09 A look back and forwards at the time of the fortieth anniversary of our engagement. The marriage spanned the period of discovery of the "third Culture Kid" phenomenon in my life.
"Brandon's New Bridge" - August/2/09 A reflection on the third anniversary of the insight into my "Third Culture Kid" experience, and the cross-cultural / bridging role that is emerging for myself out of that reality, at the time when Brandon itself is getting a new road bridge.
"To Love Again" - August/2/09 A reflection on the welcome restoration of stressed relationships after both sickness and extended period of (cross-cultural) stress in relationships like marriage which seems to involve periods of both "better and worse" for many of us.
"Without Constraint" - August/3/09 Reflection on the shortage of time for art for working people in relation to the shortage of time caused by Cancer. Reference to the life choices which emerge when cancer repriorizes life after recovery. Reference to giving voice to marginalized of all types through art.
"First Job" - August/4/09 Reflection back to my first job and two sermons encouraging me to move forward despite the past. Reference to helpful input from a church of a diferent denomination.
" A Creenglish Look At Kenya" - August/8/09 Reflection on Kenya's orphan problem and the social side of medicine writ large. Reference to cross cultural involvement in such a way that ideas are shared but culture is left intact.
"A Change In Style" - August/6-9/09 Reflections on the source of income in relation to types of (cross-cultural vs within cultural) ministry.
"What Is This Child's Name?" - August/10/09
"What Is This Child's Name?" - August/10/09 Reflection on the death of one of the orphans in the project in Kenya I was assisting.
Hope In Small Packages - August/11/09 Reflection on budgeting of limited money,time and energy within a larger skewed economic context, and the source of hope for small players within such a reality. Reference to the small package of life of a Kenyan child who died because of socially induced causes.
Two Languages Of Love - August/11/09 Reflection on whose love language gets used (across cultures)...that of the giver or the receiver.
‘Map’ - The Code For ‘Books’ - August/13/09 Reflection on the meaning of "books" to me (its 'code'). Reference to my project to make cross-cultural books up north.
The Workman - August/14/09 A reflection on the code for tools work and call as viewed cross culturally.
“Over-against” - August/14/09 A poetic reflection on the approaching third anniversary of realization I am a TCK, with implications for my writing.
"The Deep Longing Of My Soul" - August/15/09 A poem reflecting on initial priorities - the First Nations Learning style project emerges.
"Dim The Rear-View Mirror" - August/15/09 Reflection on inter dependant gifts and the power of an earlier cross-cultural project in getting people on with their lives.
"Our Goodbyes" - August/16/09 Loss of a friend from another culture. Reflection on losses due to the breakups of friends. Not all losses are medical, but often take place amidst our own medical journey of loss - life goes on.
"Habdalah - Letting Go" - August/16/09 Habdalah is the ceremony ending the day of rest each week, and the start of a new week for Jews. A reflection on the ending of holidays and fresh start to a new work year. A tool brought in from another culture.
"The Butterfly" - August/18/09 The concluding poem of this set of poems. Reflection on the transformation I have felt in myself through this journey compared to the actual experience of death and resurrection, both spiritual and physical. Reference to Christ's work of bringing Jewish insights to our other cultures.
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