List of Troubles

Mary L. Holden
1 min readJun 10, 2022

…and the chaos of tranquility

Watercolour, Anne Lister of Shibden Hall. www.commons.wikimedia.org (Anne Lister Restoration).*

Foolish looking.
Could not bear it.
Lost election.
Pride demerit.

Called in forces.
Evil intent.
Laden with Vice
and President.

Fury matched with
weapon muzzle
complicated
truth-fraud puzzle.

In wake of who
was the elect
democracy
itself was wrecked.

NOTE: Anne Lister wrote her feelings about this portrait: “30 August 1823 Mrs Taylor’s sketch of me, like a person afraid of speaking. Too foolish looking. Could not bear it. Not at all characteristic.” (Lister’s diary citation, SH:7/ML/E/7/0061.*)

What is in her hands? I believe it is a list of tasks she wanted to do: write in journal, adjust corset, ask, discern, stand and deliver truth.

In my hands today is a list of troubles, and its energy is jumping into your eyes. Sorry. Not sorry.

Poem. And ask. And petition.

Stand and be counted behind me, if you will, on this petition to ask Congress to enact a cooling-off period for civilians who purchase body armor and bulletproof vests. https://www.change.org/coolofflaw

Thank you for your attention to “troubles” and for desiring, as I do, to create some “tranquility” even in chaos.

* www.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anne_Lister_Restoration.jpg

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Mary L. Holden

A constantly evaporating editor and writer. Believer in medium since 2013 when they made me wait for an invitation….