EVENING NEWS: A Commentary by Mrs. Mildred Metzelbaum on her 93rd Birthday

What, precisely, is happening to this planet? 
Are we being poisoned by our own manic ideas of “success?”
I remember Father O'Sullivan, God bless his soul, telling me seventy years ago 
to never believe today's politicians or the press. 
They merely chase sensational headlines like starving dogs.

I believe basic values are what we need today -
quiet virtues like patience, kindness, and honesty.
They are much-needed anchors in the turbulent waters of our age. 

Across the horizon dark clouds are moving in.
Most people don’t want to face the incoming storm. 
They'd rather swallow a metaphorical Mickey Finn to drift into a comfortable, compliant stupor. 
God help them all, for they refuse to help themselves!

Sam:   (pausing after reading the poem, then looking at his friends) Perhaps Father 
        O'Sullivan is right: we are heading towards some tough times.

Kris:  (crossing her arms restlessly, restraining herself from boredom) I grant that. 
       However, pessimism is not helpful, Sam. If all we do is dwell on darkness, we 
       actually deepen it. Unwavering pessimism only deepens gloom. We need a path out 
       of our malaise, and the courage to do what is right.

Terri: (gazing at her friends, briefly noticing the swirls in her teacup) It seems to me 
       that a duality is required here. With one eye it is good, even vital, to critically 
       question everything—questioning every polished promise and fabricated truth. 
       But with our other eye, however, we must momentarily suspend corrosive doubt. 
       We need to accept and explore the terrifying, breathtaking beauty of new possibilities. 
       Only when both eyes are used simultaneously—the critical and the hopeful—can we 
       begin to see more deeply. Life's inherent ambiguities require 3D or 4D vision.

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from _AmeriSong: Poetry, Art, & Dialogs about Amerika_ by T Newfields
SUMMARY: Reflections on trust, pessimism, and the challenge of envisioning hope in a world clouded by fear and uncertainty.
KEYWORDS:  Mildred Metzelbaum, pessimistic lament, 93rd birthdays, cynical dirge, 
           elderly commentaries, dystopian threnody, Mickey Finn metaphors

Author: T Newfields [Nitta Hirou / Huáng Yuèwǔ] (b. 1955)
Begun: 2001 in Nagoya, Japan  / Finished: 2025 in Shizuoka, Japan
Creative Commons License: Attribution. {{CC-BY-4.0}} Granted

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