The smallest things seed rebellion,
the way starting tomatoes in March
leads to dreams of oregano
and basil scenting a summer walk
but less obvious, because
it is not food I am talking here
but revolution, like standing up for something
or continuing to sit, a la Rosa Parks,
or loaning a woman
35 dollars for beads and floss,
the price of a bag of groceries,
so she can sell embroidery
in a market stall, instead of her daughter
in an alley.
Not all change is big and violent,
waving signs and shouting slogans,
but quiet, the things that happen under soil
before sprouting, essential and unseen.
That’s what I’m seeding.
Susan Daniels Poetry 
that’s because you are a beautiful soul.
Shrinks, thank you! I am all for the slow and subtle–probably because I don’t have the energy for loud change anymore 😉
I like the juxtaposition here Susan ~ clever.
I shall be away for the weekend and have told my tom and pep seeds they’ll be snug in a pot on Monday. Happy potting 🙂
Aw, thanks.
Thanks, Polly. Hope they behave for you…
You had me with tomatoes, oregano and basil – staples of my life. Marvelous treatment of a heady topic.
Thanks, Paul. Some of the best staples of summer, Imo.
Susan. This sucked me in with the scented garden images then grabbed me by the social change. This is exactly right.
Alice, thank you so much! Glad it worked for you. I have never blended images like this, so wasn’t entirely sure it would work.
Reblogged this on Alice Keys and commented:
Susan L. Daniel’s poem, “Subversion”, is a splendid example of the necessary role poets play in opening hearts and hands to social justice. Thanks for reading her poem. Alice
Alice, thank you–I am honored.
Susan, I came back and reblogged this. I hope this works for you. Am I supposed to ask first?;-) I’m so new to all this.
Alice, I am honored that you did. Would never be upset by that. I’m glad you wanted to share it.
Yes, and great for women’s history month.
Georgia, thank you! I never even thought of it that way, but it works for this month too.
I heard Chris Hedges tell the audience the other night that people need to be subversive in the things they do. We shouldn’t wait for the “right time” but subversion should be a part of who we are and what we do.
I liked what Alice said about your poem and I think she is right. You definitely offer a moving example of how to open hearts and educate minds by doing little things that show that the world is infinitely richer and deeper than the surface tensions we face.
This is a really good poem, Susan. Thank you for sharing it.
Jeremy–Thank you. I am all for the slow, personally directed change. I believe that the small changes eventually lead to larger movements–they are almost a physical property of something that is both tangible and not tangible, if that makes any sense at all.
That makes a lot of sense to me. It is a stirring of awareness whose source is largely unknown but it is reaching many people at once.
Yes! I hope it keeps growing.
This is a beautiful moving write Susan – but those words are not good enough – it is more than that – but I can’t find the right words.
Anna :o]
Anna-I get it. I do. Sending you a hug for what you mean.
Love the resolute wish to make better and break cycles. We can, and we will.
Thanks, Nelle. We will, one small change at a time, move mountains.
Wow, Susan, this is a strong poem. Yup, 35 dollars for beads and floss…..might not be a lot of money for some of us, but might make all the difference in the world for someone. Each of us has the power to seed important things, if only we will take advantage of the opportunity. Thank you for this poem, Susan.
Mary, thank you, and I hope we all do some seeding.
very cool….microfinancing is very cool too…helping others help themselves….really cool…and to us it is not much money maybe but to them can change a life…great thing to highlight susan…
Brian, thank you. Uhm…can you tell I just read “Half the Sky?” So inspiring on so many levels.
Wow, what an inspiration and powerful words. Well done! I like the imagery of herbs and finance and the growth of them by planting.
Apryl, thank you. It all starts so small. That’s what I love about it!
Susan -such a beautifully powerful poem – loved the juxtaposition of the smallest seeds to big ideas and change – very moving. K
K, thank you so much.
I also like that you highlighted..microfinancing !! A truly great way to bet on the future by making a difference !! Those are seeds worth sprouting !!
Oh, I agree! Thanks for liking and commenting!
Your Welcome !!
I really loved:
“Not all change is big and violent,
waving signs and shouting slogans,
but quiet, the things that happen under soil
before sprouting, essential and unseen.”
So true.
Rowan, thank you. Yes, big words lead to little change, and small acts lead to the largest.
You know, I am about to go to India where my daughter has been working with the Self-Employed Women’s Association – this type of group is so so great – as you describe. k.
Oh, how wonderful! What a marvelous experience that is going to be!
A crop well worth planting and carefully tending.
Thank you, Jcn. i SO agree.
Oh, yes!
Laurie, thank you!
very cool susan…love the start with the tomatoes and basil…something we all can smell and relate to and then the quiet revolutions…the small seeds that develop unseen before they become visible…really cool
Claudia, thank you! I am hoping we continue to plant and nourish seeds like these one.
From little acorns…..
Yes–real shifts in thinking take time, small changes, and patience.
Definitely the color green is fully represented here in many forms…your are right on with your message and I love the Rosa Parks connection 😉
Katy, thank you. Yes, the smallest gestures have the biggest impact.
sowing the seeds of love …
Exactly, Bjorn.
The potential for green begins the poem and the potential for mankind ends it. IA powerful poem.
Viv, thank you!
wonderful, profound!!there is a lot that happens before it goes green!
That is quite true! Thanks for commenting.