Something's Happening Here

During a recent meeting about systems behavior the economic meltdown found its way into the conversation. After looking at the crisis from a systems perspective, many of us started envisioning something new rising from the ashes of the old system. Suddenly the lyrics to that 1960s Buffalo Springfield song popped into my head, “what’s that sound? what’s going down?” Later that evening I was moved to write a poem based on that experience. Here it is:

 

Echoes of Buffalo Springfield:

A Poem About the Financial Crisis

by John Renesch

2009 © John Renesch

 

The sound of fear is deafening as the cries of pundits pierce the air

Every day the news is grim and there’s so much talk, oh what despair

But wait a minute, what’s over here

It millions of young people starting to cheer

What’s that sound, what’s going down?

 

Is the banker going to take my home, or shall I lose my job?

It seems so dark from what they say, yet what I heard the other day

Hope is filling the air, not just gloom and doom

What is that sound, what is going down?

 

Something is dying that’s for sure, but something else is happening here

Nothing new can happen here until there’s room to grow

This is nature after all, what’s that sound.

So start the crying, the old system is going down

 

Something new is coming, new life is on the way

Like Buffalo Springfield said some time ago, it may not be exactly clear

But we can hear the sound if we lend an ear

Something is coming, that’s for sure

 

Stop, children, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down

Expectancy fills the air, as does uncertainty and gloom

It is time for hospice now

Get the midwives ready, they’ll be needed soon

 

Listen for the sounds of new birth, listen for the sounds of grieving

Listen to the sound, for what it’s worth

The third way is coming and it might be all new

Just like a baby, but when is it due?

 

The ravenous caterpillar has seen its final days

The glorious butterfly will soon be born

The golden sky awaits the end of the storm

No silver sounds, but a lot going down

 

Farewell to those who have lost their souls

The old bull is dying thanks to you

And welcome to the hopeful, the eager and the honest

We know it’s a mess, but please do your best

 

Thanks to Buffalo Springfield for having been

And the song they sang back then

What’s that…what's that sound?

Everybody look, what's going down.

[In the March issue of my newsletter I reflect on the butterfly metaphor for transformation.]

Comments

[Fred Phillips]

From my Sunday, October 5, 2008 blog entry at consciousmanager.blogspot.com:

To the tune of Ella Fitzgerald's "Someone to Watch Over Me":

There’s a bailout someone's longin’ to see
Citibank... sure wants to be
The one for Wa-cho-vi-a

I'm a little lamb who’s borrowed heavily
Prompt payer of bills, sure tried to be
Now Hank Paulson walks all over me

(release)
Although he may not be the man some
Would expect to pay the ransom
To my house he carries the key

Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me-ee
and Wells Fargo, Wa-cho-vi-a.

[Fred Phillips]

... and thank you, John, for the poem. If the meltdown brings out the muse in us, well at least that's something positive.

[steve pizzo]

Change is often painful but necessary. We can fear it or embrace it. I'm with you, we will soon see a new age. Just because "it ain't exactly clear" doesn't mean we run away from it. We can't anyway. Keep sending out the positive message, there are many who will listen.

[John Renesch]

Thanks, Fred.

here's the original song from the 1960s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g9PiEgYYUU&feature=PlayList&p=1A2E57316B1C6838&playnext=1&index=28

[John Renesch]

Steve, thanks and yes, welcoming in the new and allowing the outmoded to die without knowing exactly what the new ill look like does require faith and vision, not likely to be present if we are huddled together in fear.

[Global Dialogue Center BLOGS]

John,
This was a terrific addition to my day.
We are going to share it!

Warm regards,
Debbe Kennedy, Global Dialogue Center
www.globaldialoguecenter.com

[John Renesch]

Share away, Debbe! It is very gratifying to get so much feedback on a form of expression I rarely use. Thanks!

[Darnell]

Your style is so unique compared to other people I've read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you've got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this blog.