As someone whose family background is of rural origins in the state, the societal divide between urban and rural is something I’ve grown to understand fondly, whilst still abhorring at times. It appears that our current governor’s propensity for catering to a specific segment of voters will be his demise in more ways than one. As someone who is a gun-carrying, mostly libertarian individual, I respect individual freedoms, but as someone with a college education and experience in corporate America, I also respect conclusions drawn from intensive data analysis and moderate decision-making. The governor’s recent decisions and lack of regard for data and logical reasoning lead me and many others to assume that he is acting as some leaders past; that is, acting with some input from ideological advisers, but without research or intellectual curiosity to draw his own accurate conclusions.

There is a sense among many in the liberal urban enclaves of Georgia that the governor is incapable of complex analysis or caring about broad societal needs. This sense will come to haunt the Republican Party in the state for years, if not decades to come.

By digging himself into the hole of core rural support only, our governor has distanced himself from the swing voters needed to maintain any semblance of political dominance in the state. He is, as Professor Cobb mentions, using a 150-year-old plan. This usage may be expediting the plan’s long overdue expiration date, coinciding with the expiration of Governor Kemp’s political party as a dominant force in the state. By veering too far to the right, he has alienated voters, such as myself, who fear that the inexplicably human need for interaction and living could be met even less over the course of the year as our state inevitably becomes an example for what not to do in a pandemic.

The post What the Persistence of Rural Georgia’s Politics Means appeared first on Zócalo Public Square.

Firstly, there are poems I love because they make me feel like I’m being present with someone who understands what’s going on inside me. Secondly, there are poems that allow me to dwell somewhere else for a little while, until I can come back rested and ready to see the world a little differently. I’ve put together two lists, one for each of those moods, so you can choose your own adventure.

As I curated these lists of poems, I felt a little like I was assembling wine and cheese pairings. That is to say, I hope you will enjoy them! You never have to like or feel that you ‘understand’ a poem—if a poem isn’t doing something for you, just move on to the next one. There’s a little something here for everybody.

I hope these poems will save your life a little—and if there ever comes a moment when you feel like writing a poem, know that yours can do that too.

Playlist of Poetry for Distressing Times—‘Present’
Curated by Inez Tan

Gathering
1. “The Pomegranate and the Big Crowd” by Alberto Ríos 
2. “[Let Us Gather in a Flourishing Way]” by Juan Felipe Herrera

Grieving
3. “[After great pain, a formal feeling comes – ]” by Emily Dickinson 
4. “Greater Joy” by Jason Bayani

Coping
5. “You Fixed It” by Zeina Hashem Beck
6. “Yellow Glove” by Naomi Shihab Nye

Questioning
7. “Magdalene—The Seven Devils” by Marie Howe
8. “Something with a Lifespan” by Katie Peterson

Singing
9. “Elegy” by Lisa Olstein
10. “Not My Bones” by Marilyn Nelson

Playlist of Poetry for Distressing Times—‘Elsewhere’
Curated by Inez Tan

Outdoors and Outer Space
1. “Meanwhile” by Mary Oliver
2. “Using a Hula Hoop Can Get You Abducted by Aliens” by Matthea Harvey

At Home with Other Animals
3. “Tarantulas on the Lifebuoy” by Thomas Lux
4. “The Wolf” by Kaily Dorfman

On the Dance Floor
5. “Danse des Petits Cygnes” by Chloe Honum
6. “Beyoncé’s Quadruple Platinum Single—an English to English translation” by E.J. Koh

In Love
7. “Love at Thirty-Two Degrees” by Katherine Larson
8. “To Myself” by Franz Wright

The Place Where You Are Most Yourself
9. “As Kingfishers Catch Fire” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
10. “The Heart Under Your Heart” by Craig Arnold

The post Poems That Can Save Your Life a Little appeared first on Zócalo Public Square.