Hunger in America – email forwarded to me">Hunger in America – email forwarded to me
Published February 28, 2010 | 
">Bruce WhealtonI am on the Board of Neighbor House of Hillsborough, which serves the homeless and needy in Northern Orange County, NC. I just read some information that I wanted to post. I wonder sometimes about what is appropriate to post on this blog that is titled, “On Being a Poet and Other Existential Ideas,” which means I often explore the meaning of things, of existence and try to make sense of my own existence. I myself have visited the food bank near me on numerous occasions. I know that the critical parent that is part of my psyche (it’s a psychological construct, not a comment upon whether or not my actual parents were or were not critical) tells me that this should not be so… not for a person who has 2 college degrees. Things shouldn’t be this way.
Yet, in church recently, we read from Luke’s Gospel, the beautitudes: “20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. “Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”
Wow, that’s powerful and yet perplexing. What is so blessed about being poor?! Why would Jesus say that? He might as well said “blessed are the weak,” for we depend upon God more than anything else.
The Shocking Truth About Hunger in America
Hunger Study Shows Record-Breaking Need
Hunger in America 2010, the most comprehensive study ever conducted on
hunger in our country, confirms what our network has seen this past year:
More people than ever are finding themselves in line at food banks, soup
kitchens and pantries. And Feeding America is serving 1 million more people
every single week than in previous years. In fact, 37 million Americans
turned to Feeding America for help in 2009 — an increase of 46 percent
since 2006. And 38 percent of the people served by our network are children.
See the shocking facts about the state ofhunger in America.
http://feedingamerica.org/faces-of-hunger/hunger-in-america-2010.aspx
Single Mom on the Brink of Hunger
According to Hunger in America 2010, 61% of adults served by Feeding America are women - and single moms head more than a third of all households with children served by our network. Shonda is one of those single moms. And, like 23% of the people our network serves, Shonda has a college education. But even when you plan for your future and do everything in your power to find financial stability, things can go wrong - as Shonda discovered when she lost her job. It wasn't long before things got desperate for her and her two children. See how you helped. http://feedingamerica.org/faces-of-hunger/real-stories/georgia-3.aspx
Help Families in Your Community
Here's an exciting and creative way to rally your friends, neighbors and co-workers to help your hungry neighbors: join the Challenge PLUS! Choose which food bank you want to support, set a goal and start raising money. You'll get your own personalized web page and access to a participant center loaded with fundraising tips and helpful tools to get you to your personal goal. You can even promote your Challenge PLUS on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter with a simple link. It's fun and easy! http://help.feedingamerica.org/site/TR?fr_id=1110&pg=entry
Hunger Happenings on the Web
Good Mood Mission Share what makes you happy and the Oscar Mayer brand will donate 2 million pounds of food to help hungry Americans. Share Your Good Mood. http://www.kraftbrands.com/goodmoodmission/Become a fan On Facebook? Become a fan of Feeding America today to help spread the word about hunger. http://www.facebook.com/FeedingAmerica Join the Challenge PLUS Looking for a fun and exciting way to help hungry Americans? Join the Challenge PLUS today. http://help.feedingamerica.org/site/R?i=55CwXkqY09gdvbl6GcrOFw.. My Community Center Manage your e-subscriptions, track donations, and more on your customized page. http://help.feedingamerica.org/site/TR?fr_id=1110&pg=entry&s_src=C10X3PLU Become a Harvester https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1124&s_src=xxxxxx&JServSessionIdr004=490tcp8543.app1b Hunger Fact Feeding America's nationwide food bank network is feeding one million more Americans every week than in previous years. Source: Hunger in America 2010 What has Hunger in America 2010 inspired you to do? Learn more about hunger http://help.feedingamerica.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=2320&autologin=true&myField=1691_2320_2_2361_1 Tell a friend? Advocate for change? Volunteer my time? Give a donation?
Just Jeff Presents his ideas at St. Andrews">Just Jeff Presents his ideas at St. Andrews
Published February 28, 2010 | ">Bruce WhealtonThis is the next in the series of articles about the poetry reading that was part of the Fortner Writers’ Forum at St. Andrews Presbyterian College. I wanted to present Jeff Wyatt in this post. I have a number of photos of Jeff that I wanted to share. As in the other posts, these are thumbnails. To see larger images click on the image. Jeff had questions for the audience, ideas he wanted to convey. He also shared more of his thoughts behind his poems than the other two of us. Jeff was more animated than myself or Joe. I guess that’s just Jeff.
at the Fortner Writers’ Forum at St. Andrews Presbyterian College Part 2">at the Fortner Writers’ Forum at St. Andrews Presbyterian College Part 2
Published February 28, 2010 | ">Bruce WhealtonThe event began with the first poet, Joe Miller, pictured below.
| Joe began with a few poems from his collection entitled “Got Chicken?” which is also featured on the shirt he is wearing. | |||
| Bruce Whealton then shared his poetry with the audience. He is pictured below. | |||
Poets Joe C. Miller, Bruce Whealton and “Just Jeff” Wyatt Appear at St. Andrews Part 1">Poets Joe C. Miller, Bruce Whealton and “Just Jeff” Wyatt Appear at St. Andrews Part 1
Published February 27, 2010 | ">Bruce WhealtonWilmington based poets Joe C. Miller, Bruce Whealton and “Just Jeff” Wyatt were featured at the Fortner Writers’ Forum at St. Andrews Presbyterian College Thursday night beginning at 8 p.m. This was a great honor for myself, Bruce Whealton. I really enjoyed the event and felt I had one of my best readings and did one of my better readings of my poetry.
Caitlin Johnson, Office Manager/Editorial Assistant, St. Andrews Press, announced each of us. All of us were invited by Dr. Ron Bayes, writer-in-residence and professor at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, NC. Dr. Ron Bayes is well respected and well recognized in the field of poetry and creative writing. To the right he appears with Jeff Wyatt and Joe Miller. Below is Caitlin Johnson.
A Final Solution – poem by Bruce Whealton">A Final Solution – poem by Bruce Whealton
Published February 5, 2010 | ">Bruce WhealtonA Final Solution
I sat down tonight
with my friend
Despair…
we spoke for hours and hours…
I was hypnotized
As the night drew onward
he became more passionate
He had a plan,
a solution -
a final plan,
as it were.
Yet, I couldn’t go through
with it.
I was scared,
confused,
didn’t have the stomach for it…
slowly
over time
he just faded away,
like an apparition.
I knew he’d be back
and we’d talk again,
and he’d bring up his plan
and maybe I’d listen,
yes, I’d at least listen,
that much is certain.
Secret Companions – poem by Bruce Whealton">Secret Companions – poem by Bruce Whealton
Published February 5, 2010 | ">Bruce WhealtonSecret Companions
Despair is a companion
I’ve known well,
it almost seems that he is a part of me…
We’ve had a unique relationship
few would understand -
it was our intention -
we invented our own language.
Since he came back,
we have been talking endlessly,
we have so much catching up
to do.
There’s no time to think of anything else
these days…
Words, I cannot express
to anyone else
he understands -
I’d only be angry if I tried
to explain to anyone else
what I’m feeling…
there’s that disconnection.
It’s amazing the things
we find to discuss,
despair and I.
He tells me he has a sister
and how perfect
she would be for me…
I dream of her,
of resting in her arms
and a final serenity.
The Best Thing I've Ever Done – Poem By Bruce Whealton">The Best Thing I've Ever Done – Poem By Bruce Whealton
Published February 1, 2010 | ">Bruce WhealtonThe Best Thing I’ve Ever Done
I forget how it happened,
was a kneeling?
Doesn’t matter.
It wasn’t a surprise.
She picked it out.
Had no doubt I was going
to get it.
While it is true
that many other details
around this event
have faded
over the years,
I do remember,
that though there was
no surprise surrounding
this event,
she had tears in her eyes
when she held the ring.
I made her happy…
I think that’s got to be
the most right
and best thing
I’ve ever done
in my life.
Bruce Whealton
Show me how you see me? – For Celta – A Poem in 3 parts – Poem by Bruce Whealton">Show me how you see me? – For Celta – A Poem in 3 parts – Poem by Bruce Whealton
Published February 1, 2010 | ">Bruce WhealtonShow me how you see me – Three Poems, Three Parts
Poem I.
Part I.
She asked,
“show me how
you see me.”
I said I cannot draw or paint.
So, I tried to paint
a picture
of her
with words -
a poem
to serve
as a painting
of what I saw
when I saw her.
Part II.
My challenge was
to convey something
beyond
what mere descriptive words
can do -
my desire/challenge
was to show her
or any reader
what I alone
was seeing (or feeling),
to convey something
of the nature of
an impression.
Part III.
What I saw…
She stood just over
five feet,
so very thin
and delicate.
I remember her falling
and I was so afraid
that if I were to
pick her up
I might break something…
and what I felt,
was something soft.
I’d imagine my arms
wrapped in pillows
so I both could hold her
closely, feel her touch
and hold her softly.
Advice from an Editor to one seeking publication – poem by Bruce Whealton">Advice from an Editor to one seeking publication – poem by Bruce Whealton
Published February 1, 2010 | ">Bruce WhealtonAdvice to those wanting publication
Tell your stories,
paint your pictures
in verse…
be concise,
add passion
use vivid imagery
paint your reader
a picture
with words.
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