We Are Sour, But We Have the Power

Out of the blue ocean, into the black sea

We still appear wet behind our ears

And still burning bridges made out of ancient trees

Repeating the same old questions, while wearing our masks of tears

 

What about looking at nature’s dragonflies and bees?

How do they live in harmony without the fears?

We are the carriers of this corrupt disease

Ignoring our racist problems for too many years

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  June 2020

Below, the lyrics to “Nina Cried Power” by Hozier, please read and sing along…..

“Nina Cried Power”
(feat. Mavis Staples)

[Hozier:]
It’s not the waking, it’s the rising
It is the grounding of a foot uncompromising
It’s not forgoing of the lie
It’s not the opening of eyes
It’s not the waking, it’s the risingIt’s not the shade, we should be past it
It’s the light, and it’s the obstacle that casts it
It’s the heat that drives the light
It’s the fire it ignites
It’s not the waking, it’s the rising

It’s not the song, it is the singing
It’s the heaven of a human spirit ringing
It is the bringing of the line
It is the bearing of the rhyme
It’s not the waking, it’s the rising

[Hozier & Mavis Staples:]
And I could cry power (Power), power (Power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power
And I could cry (Power) power, (Power) power
Hey, power
Curtis cried power
Patti cried power
Nina cried power

[Hozier:]
It’s not the wall, but what’s behind it
Oh, the fear of fellow man, it’s mere assignment
And everything that we’re denied
By keeping the divide
It’s not the waking, it’s the rising

[Hozier & Mavis Staples:]
And I could cry power (Power), power (Power)
Oh, power
Nina cried power
Lennon cried power
James Brown cried power
And I could cry (Power) power, (Power) power
Hey, power
B.B. cried power
Joni cried power
Nina cried power

[Mavis Staples:]
And I could cry power
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Straight into the face that tells you
To rattle your chains if you love being free

[Hozier & Mavis Staples:]
But I could cry power (Power)
‘Cause power is my love when my love reaches to me
James Brown cried power
Seeger cried power
Marvin cried power
Yeah ah, power
James cried power
Lennon cried power
Patti cried power
Billie, power
Dylan, power
Woody, power
Nina cried power

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ivor20

G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.

58 thoughts on “We Are Sour, But We Have the Power”

  1. your poem connects the dots, human and diseases and the state of our minds. “still burning bridges of ancient trees” – this one line says it so poignantly. well crafted poem Ivor.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

      1. You know That s true but the disempowered cry when the forces of repression are relentless. Hopefully in a growing world that may stop happening as much as it did in the past if everyone stands up with a strong positive voice.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes Deb, I agree… Here I am at my Box Office Café, but waiting for a spot… Ahh getting a table for me now… This will be my first luncheon out for 3 months.. Wow.. 😊

        Liked by 1 person

  6. The changes do not seem to take effect no mater how much it is shouted out. The problem is the diseased mind it has been corrupted. All the crisis have brought up inner reflections on life and the difference kinds of racism that has gone on without much being done or said about it. You do not recognise it until it comes back like a flash back in your face or mind. We just accepted it as we were made to think it was normal by those who had more might be them at school, work or home. This pain and trauma has to come to an end.

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. Really like this Ivor and especially as Gina said above that first line. I sure wish I could spend more time visiting my favorite poets and discovering more. Really glad I made it here today. *hugs* ♥.

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. Timely poem, Ivor…poignant and wise.
    We pray the positive power overcomes and defeats the negative sour!
    We should follow the example of the harmony in nature.
    You know I love Hozier and his music! 🙂
    (((HUGS)))
    PS…I was AWOL, but like The Terminator, ” I’ll be bach!” and now, I’m back. I explained in a blog I just now blogged. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Hi dear Carolyn, I’ll just keeping writing with the best of my positive power, and keep hoping that the misguided humans are able to learn from the ways of nature’s harmony…
    Oh’… I wrote a big long comment to your last article, about how I understood your story….. and how I felt so naive and inadequate about the racism problem is our world….. and how disappointed I am with the world I live in…… but for some reason the computer or WP lost my reply…. I was so frustrated…. I’m afraid I had a good cry and gave things up for a few days….sorry….. xxx

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