farming
The Off Grid Life
the off-grid life.
untied from the shackles of strife,
2017, the modern existence,
getting on the property ladder, how does anyone have a chance?
20, 25 or 30, forced to work to pay every bill,
going to work all hours, struggling to find a way, a life against our will,
needing the money from any form of work, mostly unprogressive, unhappy
life passing by, frustrating, anger, decreasing self-worth, causing individuals to be snappy
unfulfilled, potentials are not met, working a job all day, unable to progress,
money is the key factor, for bills to be met, let me digress.
often they still aren't causing pain and suffering, stress and depression,
homelessness is rife through the country, a feeling of regression,
a feeling of being stuck, how to retrain and improve your careers?
speak to friends or family and the same conversation, doubts, and fears
if only another option was available,
one that was accepted and not just for the vulnerable,
the homeless, the people with nothing,
but how is this existence different? it is truly crushing,
once you can see that your life is consumed with working for money,
the soul has passed, your energy too, it can get so hard it's not even funny,
but who understands? in the face of consumerism, higher purchase, loans, and debt,
who is living a life, truly satisfied, and their dreams are met?
Not all people living off-grid are rich in cash!
but they aim for other needs; security in food & energy, it's worth a bash,
a growing transition for many people too,
it's not just for the hippies, the spiritual, it's for people like me and you,
think about it for a moment or two...
who would you be without your car, house and your possessions?
is that person you portray the real you? or do you blend in so people don't ask questions?
are you honest with your family and friends?
or do you sit behind a desk wishing it would end?
there is a wealth of knowledge of old traditions,
from a time when they lived without these conditions,
the conditions of social media, advertising, marketing ads or vlogs
when screen time didn't consume every waking hour, and children were fascinated with tadpoles transforming into frogs.
hours spent outside, climbing trees, playing at the park,
not allowed home unless it was tea time or had gotten dark.
a shift is happening, ecotherapy, wild schooling, bushcraft, and hikes,
forest schooling, homeschooling, people walking and out on their bikes,
scientists are noticing the effects on children's behaviors, reduced health issues,
ADHD, also a boost in self-awareness, positivity, confidence and mental health issues
is it easier to sit a child down to hours in front of the tv, or ipad?
than it is to spend a few hours playing down the park with dad?
or baking a cake with mum, the importance of these skills are being misplaced,
in this consumerism world, with employees a number, in a life so fast-paced.
Off-grid living, the communities hidden away,
all they want is a parcel of land to look after their needs, but hey,
that's not possible, 'cause where will the local council get their tax,
with the community, living off the land, growing food and chopping wood with an axe,
the need and usage of government-owned services would become minute,
living simply and within your skills of the land, renewables used, an abundance of fruit,
food preserved in many forms, jams and chutneys, frozen meat,
enough food to last year-round to survive through winter, or in the heat,
the food produced off the land, tending the garden, and grown for nutrition,
the most important for life and health also said to aid in remission.
off grid homesteaders, don't need to take the flack,
with health as the focus, working outdoors to provide, lowering the need for prozac,
comments from shallow minded people need not be said,
the power of community, working together, I want to spread,
to include children in the transition, of conserving nature and our wildlife,
the tranquil setting amongst the seasons, watching the stars, that's my type of nightlife.
I get on one knee
I get on one knee
for
Persephone
and plant a seed
of
corn squash & bean
“marry me
Spring and Autumn;
be mine
and I’m
forever yours,”
Mankind
Share the Dream
Ugonna Wachuku
Day breaks in on us slowly.
Today's journey through life
will be full of riddles and
hope.
Life will surely bring new
suprises and strange
shadows to humankind,
globally.
Shadows of this new day
will certainly accompany
us through inspiring village
paths and forests of hope
and inspiration.
On our way to the farm,
new meaning to life will
be found, with creativity
and innovation through
ancestral green leaves
in home forests.
Ancestral footprints will
be followed on our way to
plant hopeful crops for our
coming harvest.
Whether there will be a
harvest, we cannot tell.
The world have changed so
much since grandma and
grandpa were children
in the family.
Then, our ancestors could
smell good weather and
refreshing rain. Now, we
smell cyclones, nuclear
pollution and destructive
rain filled with this flaming
scent of climate change
and inflicted instability.
Anyway, my friends, we
are headed for the farm:
We must plant our crops
for hopeful coming harvest.
We have fresh, good hope
for healing of humankind.
We have bountiful, fresh
dreams and love for beloved
humankind's thriving survival
on this trying earthly journey
called life.
Our dreams are real and
worthy enough to go round
enchanting earth with love
and family oneness.
Come, my love.
Come, humankind.
Share the dream
of my simple soul.
Cape of Good Hope
darling, share our
dream of bountiful
new harvest and
healing for humanity.
Come, my friends.
Walk with us through
ancestral village paths
to our farm of hope,
healing and love
unchained.
Come, all of you
who will:
Globally, walk with us,
gladly, this new day;
for humankind's
abiding
h
e
a
l
i
n
g
!
!
()
*
Share the Dream
~ Critiques/Comments ~
Mona Omar
lets all share the dream of happiness , peace and love
http://www.postpoems.com/members/mona
Helen Schmidt
Ugonna, This is a lovely poem of hope and dreams of making the world a better place. Would that these dreams come true! Best regards, Helen
http://www.postpoems.com/members/helen
Amy Riberdy
A poem filled with hope for the beauty of the old world to survive in spite of the destructive nature of a modern life that threatens to destroy the beauty of the land & a way of life.. Amy
http://www.postpoems.com/members/gentle
Misty Lackey
for some reason I could see this poem on a huge flag or on a huge blue sky for the whole world to see feelings that set free the mind on todays nature and world..
http://www.postpoems.com/members/mistylls
michelle
Bonjour(Swiss) Ugonna, As I read your poem, I thought about those who did not make it to another day, following the attacks on New York twin towers and on the Pentagone. Yes each day is a day of hope even if the changing world around us threatens to rob us of our subsistence, loved ones and hope. Each day is a new beginning not only for us but also for the coming generations. We have to pass on the dream unless we die. This poem is fitting for such time as this. Thank you Michelle
http://www.postpoems.com/members/mistylls
Deborah Russell
For some reason one of my favourite books comes to mind, "The Good Earth", by Pearl S. Buck. A book which still lends passages to my mind, years after reading it for the second time. Of course I would like to think that most of us do 'keep the dream' of green pastures close to our hearts. Again the form of the last three stanzas is a goblet. And the wine flows freely dripping from the stem. An inspirational image!
http://postpoems.com/members/inside
Gail Henderson
beautiful words it is amazing
when i read this poem it was
like the words were flowing
of the pages great work keep it up.
http://PostPoems.com/members/poetvg
2002-07-10 02:29:24
Adele Smith
This poem shows that sometimes we don't know what life can bring us. Only with Hope and understanding does we seem to move forward in life. keep up the great work
http://PostPoems.com/members/alienadele
2003-06-01 15:38:59
Ruth Lovejoy
I really feel your heart in this piece! An outstanding one!
http://PostPoems.com/members/poetrylady
2008-01-13 15:32:22
Bring in Sheaves
Ugonna Wachuku
With love for the earth's rural poor in unwavering support of the crucially essential mission and work of CIAT: International Center for Tropical Agriculture: Science to Cultivate Change: http://ciat.cgiar.org and FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: http://www.fao.org + IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development: http://www.ifad.org
Through blue, cloudless skies,
I see rainbows and stars drawing
glorious patterns and planting
flowers with nature's sweet scent.
Beautiful hearts and loving souls
gather to tell the story of the
rain. The rainbow is there to tell
this love story from heaven. The
farm will bloom forever with
fertile rain from these clouds
in celebration of the world's
rural poor and those of us
living in hunger-striken
shadows of life and wounded
hope bleeding.
Inspiring smell from earth's soil
meet me on this journey to
welcoming farmlands of home.
I see grandma's handsome hand
sowing seeds for new life.
I warmly view mummy's caring
hand cultivating corn seeds, cassava
and yam tubers for our earth's
rural poor. With gladness, I
remember CIAT's, IFAD's and FAO's
crucial mission and work throughtout our
yearning world of poverty and hunger!
I see heavenly hearts beating for
the new harvest when these seeds
come to life with my love for
these poor of the earth; these
rural hearts of beauty longing
for healthy abundance and fertile
renewal of their earth's barreness.
For these beloved rural poor, CIAT's,
IFAD's and FAO's bounties abound.
Grandma's seeds are sown. Mummy's
handsome harvest is real. And through
the loving lushness of my weeping
heart on green pastures, and fruitful
meadow sea shores, joyful, refreshing
rain is given from heaven's heart to
our tearful earth's rural poor made
whole in heaven's unfathomable
abundance forever.
There is a glad song echoing
throughout the galaxy; far beyond
the simple skies we know. This harvest
will renew humanity. This coming harvest
will teach us love and brotherhood. This
harvest will be a new beginning if we
wish it deep down CIAT's, IFAD's
and FAO's systems; deep down
humanity's heart of cultivated love
and sustainable survival on rural
landscapes and agricultural lands
waiting to be made fertile and
humbly rich for the good of our
enchanting earth's rural poor.
For these beloved rural poor of our cute,
yearning earth, CIAT's, IFAD's and
FAO's bounties, experience and
knowledge of poverty eradication
and science of cultivation are made
available with care and unwavering
love embodied in humaneness:
Then, humkind, CIAT, IFAD, FAO,
grandma, mummy, me, let us go forth
and bring in the sheaves for our
beautiful earth's beloved rural poor.
We must go now:
As we bring in sheaves, let us share this
new breath of love and oneness. Bring
in sheaves. Bring in soothing sheaves.
Let us breath from that calm, refreshing wind
of this fertile love, for the earth's beautiful,
rural poor: Love made real and meaningful in
CIAT's, IFAD's and FAO's committed mission
and crucially essential work of enabling our
world's rural poor overcome their poverty
and nutritional deficiency!
This is the welcoming message I leave
with all women and men of goodwill and
love this new day in unwavering support
and cherishment of CIAT, IFAD's and FAO's
highly essential mission across the world.
Come! Beloved Humankind:
Join CIAT's mission now, this day!
Join IFAD's mission this new day!
Join FAO's mission this new dawn!
Let our earth's rural poor overcome
their poverty. Let their "levels
of nutrition and standards of
living" rise with improved
"agricultural productivity"
and nourishing "science to
cultivate" abundantly!
Together, as
one,
With
CIAT,
with
IFAD,
with
FAO,
let us
bring
in
bountiful
sheaves
for our
earth's
rural
poor.
Bring
in
s
h
e
a
v
e
s
this
new
day
with
CIAT,
IFAD
and
FAO!
!
!
!
Bring in Sheaves
~ Critiques/Comments ~
Lesa Gay
I was raised on a little farm in Iowa. I know well the smell of freshly turned earth, the busy time of harvest, and the prayers to the Lord for a bountiful harvest. Thanks for bringing to mind a picture of my childhood. ~Lesa~
http://PostPoems.com/members/lesajg
2002-04-04 15:39:45
Linda M. Medeiros
pudnsis1@aol.com
Ugonna,
As usual, you have outdone yourself. Each of your poems pour out with love, compassion, truth and with your heart's spirit, your words impress deeply into my soul. There are many poor and hungry and if they could use their soil would plant and grow for themselves, but, those of them that destroy and ruin, prevent this. Yes, let all who can share a kernal or morsal do. Let us help each other so that no one starves by the hands of evil. Thank you for sharing. Linda
http://PostPoems.com/members/pudnsis1
2002-04-08 14:43:57
Helen Schmidt
heljac123@aol.com
Ugonna,
What fervent words pour from your bountiful heart. This wonderful piece reflects your caring concern and unending hope for the betterment of those less fortunate than you. I certainly enjoy reading your humanitarian poems, Ugonna; they are wonderful.
Helen
http://PostPoems.com/members/helen
2002-04-08 16:15:24
Mona Omar
dear ugonna a beautiful poem full of compassion planting more seeds of love :)
http://PostPoems.com/members/mona
2002-04-09 02:33:55
Keith Neal
Another piece that allowed the reader to
gain visual experience with your words.
The line where you described your mother's
"handsome" hands is a characteristic I've
seldomly heard having reference to a woman.
Another eloquent piece from you!
Keith
http://www.postpoems.com/members/techpoet
2002-04-09 03:46:50
Amy Riberdy
These are such strong words, pouring out with the heart's compassion that is so much a part of the many beautiful poems that you produce.
To take the seed & plant it in the hopes that it will produce the bounty necessary to feed the hungry of the world, is feeling the greatest joy in the many miracles of God.
To imagine that one simple tiny seed can feed so many. And the action of a mother's hand sowing these seeds with tender loving care brings hope to the hearts of all wish for a better tomorrow.
This piece says this & more....
Well done
Amy
http://PostPoems.com/members/gentle
2002-04-10 13:30:02
Douglas Lazard
I will check out IFAD... What a wonderful poem expressing your heartfelt desire for the betterment of mankind! And yes, we must do it through the healing and caring management of dear mother earth! Like you I can't wait for that better day of love and brotherhood1
Well done my friend!
Peace and love ~~~~ Dougie ~~
http://PostPoems.com/members/dougie
2002-04-11 06:43:43
Mary Charest
Hi Ugonna,
Your humanitarian poems really touch me. I join with you in hope that we can feed the poor and change the world with unwavering love. This is my constant prayer.
Love,
Mary
http://PostPoems.com/members/maryfran444
2002-04-11 16:13:55
Myra Lochner
myrataal@mweb.co.za
Dear Ugonna ...
Let me try again to post this comment ... it is also on your guest book ...
I love the visual impact of this poem, imitating a pregnant sheaf, ready for the reap. The beautiful imagery as well as the implicit message of hope and expectation is a typical Uggona style, reflecting a tender heart. I also love the way in which you reach back to you roots ...
Thank you for inviting me here again. It is always a pleasure to read your work.
May God bless you and keep you.
Myra
Ps. Ah! The Internet is surrendering to tender touch ... LOL ... here goes ...
http://PostPoems.com/members/myrataal
2002-04-12 09:30:33
Donna Allard
email hidden
Well Ugonna.. tis a prayer we should all sing, tis a seed we should all plant, tis a hope that should dewll within all souls, on this earth and beyond, the rainbow.
Just a thought :) Donna
http://PostPoems.com/members/saphire
2002-04-12 23:19:50
Farah D
Its amazing how much inspiration you bring out with your words..Ugonna. I found this poem powerful and beautiful and at the same touching and sad. All I can say is AMEN..to your words. http://PostPoems.com/members/destiny
2002-04-14 13:27:24
Lorraine Reutter
Dear Ugonna, once again the your humane compassionate heart is echoed in the walls of this beautiful poem...thankyou once again for sharing ..I will be sure to check out IFAD...Respectfully ...Lorraine
http://PostPoems.com/members/lorrydell
2002-04-15 10:54:24
Ann-Marie Williamson
well done. Beautifully written and beautifully layed out.
If only more people could look at things in the same way.
Keep up the good work.
http://PostPoems.com/members/hl_angel
2002-04-15 12:27:09
Tim / manatee Marshall
hi,this gets an A+ from me,keep up the good work
http://PostPoems.com/members/bigone
2002-04-15 13:57:22
Jessica (Cook) Edwards
Thank you for including me in your list of friends. You write so eloquently of the things you love and I can see clearly that you love your work with the poor. God bless you and yours and know that you remain in my prayers.
Jessica
http://PostPoems.com/members/onelilartist
2002-04-15 20:19:31
Betty Hattersley
Ugonna what a beautiful poem. So many times I wonder why harvests are poor in the places that need the food. Yet many others waste or destroy so much. To see children happy and smiling is a wonderful sight. These poor people don't ask for much, are always proud and work so hard. Your words are so deep and true...thank you for being a friend Ugonna...it's an honour to know you.
http://PostPoems.com/members/silverlining7
2002-04-17 13:30:59
Adele Smith
This is an insparational poem. Can't wait to read more
http://PostPoems.com/members/alienadele
2002-04-19 14:30:03
Misty Lackey
Well Written with good style!
I really am happy now that I have read all of your nice comments on my poetry. you are quiet a talent yourself,
keep it up, and stay sweet :-)
http://www.postpoems.com/members/mistylls
2002-04-19 22:37:14
michelle
This poem shows that we cannot do things solely on our own and for our own good alone. Either we are aware of it or not, we need God, men, goodwill and a cooperative nature to provide sun, rain, a good soil in a symphony of love and life.
You have been able to bridge a faceless organisation with real life, a woman sowing seeds, far away in Africa but this could be anywhere in the world where there are the rural poor.
2002-05-09 13:08:34
Karyn Indursky
It's shocking how much love pours from you into all of your work. You really know to deliver not only the scenery, but the tranquil, loving feelings. Then, you even go on to dedicate this and list the links. It's just amazingly beautiful and respectable.
http://PostPoems.com/members/pablondie21
2003-05-02 11:48:50