As the solstice arrives, the week winds down, and the days begin once more to lengthen, it’s time for our final submission for this year’s Lords of Misrule. This one comes from an artist known only as Newt S. For the last time this year, Io Saturnalia!
My sincerest thanks for everyone for participating this year. I wasn’t expecting a single submission, let alone five of the bloody things.
Today’s submission, a plea to pick up litter while on your morning (or evening) constitutional, comes from one Quinn Casey. Io Saturnalia!
I normally walk at an incredibly brisk pace. I have found a zen to slowing down to A) pick up the garbage and B) turn around slowly and admire the clean patch.
I’m not talking about hopping a fence into someone’s farmland. There are areas in the US that are legally private property, but in practice are wild, unused spaces.
For a rule-follower like myself it’s a “you know it when you see it”. Some real life examples of property I regularly trespass on and cleanup:
Picking up trash adds a layer of innocence to your case when pleading ignorance of your trespassing. Even if you are never confronted, it may help immerse you and ease your law-abiding mind.
Paths you roam frequently will be cleaned faster than they accumulate garbage, and there comes a point where the space looks natural, untouched by human kind. In my opinion, having those wild spaces close to where we live is essential to mental health.
I’m stubbornly attached to the (unhealthy) notion that a productive day is a successful day.
Where does this trash go when you bring it all back to the bin? Does this encourage more consumption/litter, since the waste isn’t immediately obvious anymore? Is litter even a substantial environmental problem, or is it just aesthetic?
I don’t pretend to know the answer to these. These are problems for a society, a larger than life culture. For too many years this was the excuse I used to not care at all. To not take any action whatsoever.
What’s the point of helping at all?
Well now I’ve found one. (5, if you’ve been keeping count) reasons to take action in a localized, meaningful way.
Small but constant effort by everyone is just as impactful as a one off million dollar idea. For true change we need to alter our behavior for the long term.
Relax, take a walk. Bring a bag.
Welcome back to our first annual Lords of Misrule! Today’s poem comes to us from one Noa S. Enjoy.
do you
do you
do you ever
ever ever
wonder whether
maybe maybe
something
else
is hiding
hiding
in this world
sometimes
nighttime
i see things
scary
barely
anything but
something
nothing
physical
hiding
hiding
in
this world
would i
could i
if there were
love these things
like i loved her
maybe
she
is
touching me
hiding trying
to watch me
maybe
she is
missing me
now
she
loves me
finally
~noa
Iō Saturnalia! As you may remember, at the start of the month i announced that to celebrate the holiday season, you could submit anything you wanted to my website and i’d put it up. I’m pleased to say several people took up my offer, and i’ll be putting them up daily starting today. Our somber first submission comes from a reader by the nom de plume of Ræl H. Bishop. Enjoy.
I think I might’ve finally accepted the fact that I’m gonna die some day.
A story has no purpose if it doesn’t have an end.
We will all die some day and never again be able to feel the sun shine on our faces, shielding us with warmth.
But it’s that very fact that lets us enjoy the sun for his bountiful rays.
Be here, now.
For even the sun will burn out one day and never shine again.