The Dedication at the beginning of the book expresses the spirit and intent of Poems That Ask – Can We Do Better?
“I dedicate these poems to all whom men and man-made institutions, cultures, religions and empires have harmed.
In particular, I dedicate the poems to hope for dignity, justice and empowerment for women, children, First Peoples, Peoples of Colour, and all others who have suffered, endured, and are healing.
I also dedicate this book to us noble and terrible Homo sapiens, and our long-suffering and resilient kindred species who have suffered greatly at the hands of men. And finally, I dedicate these poems to our wondrous, ever-present, ever-giving, ever-nurturing, ever-enduring, ever-evolving Mother Earth. May she be restored to full health and vitality.”
Two hundred and forty pages and thirty-seven poems … packed with originality, challenge and hope. But only for those who are open to challenge and are hungry for hope. The poems are the quintessence of Can We Do Better in prose. These poems and themes are different, unapologetic, inspiring, and replete with possibilities for one and all.
Read and see what sobers, resonates and energises you.
"The anthology, 'Poems That Ask - Can We Do Better?’, is an enlightening, fair but firm poke in Humanity’s shoulder. Don doesn’t pull any punches. His poems are brave, clear, and sobering."
FROM PAGE 171
Excerpt
To Whom and for What Hopes He is Writing
Breathe… and be aware that this man is writing about … reality and hope … for victims and survivors of man-made injustice, harm, abuse, and suffering … then and now … here, there, and everywhere.
He is writing to all whom men … and institutions of men … have disconnected, disadvantaged, harmed and robbed of dignity … and have disrespected, disparaged, diminished, injured, and impaired.
He is writing to male perpetrators of disadvantage, exploitation, abuse, pain, and suffering. This man is writing to wanton, toxic, malignant patriarchal abusers and to contemptuous abusers.
He is writing to inert, unmoved bystanders who passively, uncaringly, and tacitly enable the harms of toxic men … through uncaring and inaction.
He is writing to cynical bystanders and right-leaning armchair experts who pontificate, judge, blame, disparage, blame, and retraumatise the victims of toxic masculinity.
This man is writing to lukewarm, unmoved bystanders who are apathetic about callous, ignorant, and seemingly-blissfully unaware of man-made harms and suffering.
And … he is writing to men and women who are caring and concerned … but until now… have been disengaged … and have done little to help.
He is writing to thank and confirm dedicated advocates, activists, justice leaders, carers, custodians, and elders who speak and act to give us hope… here, there, and everywhere … then, now, and always.
He is writing to confirm and encourage women and men who actively strive to prevent and remediate harm and suffering.
This man is writing to motivate those who might be awakened … who might be motivated… to be more aware, more compassionate, more engaged, and more proactive … to remediate harm.
He is writing to awaken those who could be inspired to mindful, active, cohesive strategic citizenship, advocacy, activism, custodianship, and leadership.
He is writing to all potential educators, aspiring leaders, emerging custodians, and budding elders. This man is writing to inspire those who yearn to be mindful, educated, involved, committed, helpful.
He is writing to invite citizens to step forward and become proactive, strategic custodians and advocates of decency, integrity, accountability.
He is writing to awaken reality in guilty and complicit, dissociated politicians, public servants, industrialists, corporatists … here, there, and everywhere … now and always.
He is writing to awaken the conscience of those in positions of unloving - uncaring power, authority, influence, stewardship, and leadership.
He is writing to call for action by yet-to-be-engaged experts, scientists, researchers, and academics.
This man is writing to inspire grandparents, parents, partners, workers, students, and teachers to become catalysts, mentors, educators, and leaders.
He is writing to awaken and call young people and children to mindful awareness and strategic action. He is writing to inform workers, professionals and managers in all domains … at all levels.
This man is writing to challenge celebrities and public figures to be advocates, voices, and role models of societal and ecological awareness-in-action.
He is writing to invite working class battlers, the up-and-coming middle class, and the affluent… to be of one mind … to collaborate and act together… united… for the sake of decency, justice, and rationality.
He is writing to dignify and awaken Children, Women, Indigenous, Peoples, Peoples of Colour, Refugees, the poor and disenfranchised … here, there, and everywhere … now and always.
He is writing to dignify and awaken you and me … and eight billion of ‘us’ … here there and everywhere.
He is writing to arouse one and all to hope though action … because … each and all have a part to play in proactively creating and actioning hope. Each of us and all of us have a part to play in actively reducing and healing man-made harms … here, there and everywhere … now and always.
He is writing to convey reality and hope to toxic men who urgently need to imbue, evolve and channel the oneness and wholeness of conscious, profound … dignity, kindness, respect, and integrity … toward one and all … here, there and everywhere … now and always.
He is writing to call you and me and all of us to a revelation, revolution and evolution of dignity-and-reason in action … here, there, and everywhere … now and always.
This man is writing to call her and him, they and them … to call each and all of us … to mindfulness of grace-in-action and love-in-action… here, there and everywhere … now and always.
He is writing to call one and all to love … that we might fall in love … with peoples, our fellow species, and our Mother Earth … that love-in-action may become our new mindful, heartfelt normal … here, there, and everywhere… now and always.
Reviews
FROM READERS
These poems are packed with insights that challenged me to core. I couldn’t read more than a couple of poems in each sitting. I loved the themes and have been doing a lot of musing. I think I might have to read Don’s first book, Can We Do Better?
MICHAEL ANDREWS
As a woman, I was greatly encouraged by so much awareness by a male author. These poems are a very honest and brave account of historical and contemporary impacts for women in a man’s world. As Don says: ‘So many issues - man-made - then and now and emerging’. It has been a breath of fresh air to read words of empathy, respect and understanding. Don – well done for saying what is long overdue to be said – by a man – on behalf of men. On behalf of my fellow women – thank you.
JENNIFER WATSON
My partner and I read these poems together. One per night, as time permitted. We shared some of them with our friends. They certainly made for some lively discussion. This book holds up a mirror to us humans. The realities they reveal are stark. But the hope they offer is encouraging. For some, these poems will be liberating. For others, they will be uncomfortable. They are well worth the effort and the risk.