The Sharpener: Recent Episodes
Anastasi Sharp
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It’s been said that poetry can’t make things happen. But in turbulent times, like ours, people often reach for rhyme and song. Why? I think it’s because poetry is there to remind us of something. So, let’s remember that peace is choice, and it’s not just manufactured by people in power, but by everyone. Today, at the speed of our newsfeeds, peace is words too. One word, one voice doesn’t mean much. But one brick doesn’t mean much all by itself. But as you gather bricks, suddenly you realize you’ve got a house.
Poetry reminds us of something, but then we have to do something. I’m donating to the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue [which aims for peacebuilding and handling conflict through communication]. I hope you will too.
Peace is a choice. Choose it.
Peace is a voice. Use it.
Please choose peace
its all we’ve got.
It costs a little
but worth a lot.
I’m definitely not our finest poet
If this rhyme was a car
They would probably tow it.
Feeling strong is not worth the fight
You can’t prove it’s day, when your friend thinks it’s night.
What did the dog learn from the bite?
To turn the other cheek? Well, not quite.
And peace is more than dropping arms.
Its also about preventing harm.
And stopping cold from going warm.
A bridge built strong in a bad position.
Is still prone to demolition.
Talk is how peace is achieved.
Don’t share it if you feel deceived
Spread what’s worth spreading
Mask what you’re shedding.
Don’t think in terms of ‘lost’ or ‘won’
That’s just the way they want it spun
But even words seem slight
Now we’re 100 seconds from midnight.
Please choose peace
Its an act; we choose.
As accidental as phones we use.
Peace is a sound we make with our voice.
And not saying anything is still a choice.
Peace is wide. Peace is tall.
The only club that fits us all.
A club that everyone remembers.
So why are there such few members?
The clock ticks. But it knows how to strike.
The dog barks. But it knows how to bite.
There’s time for peace if we tell it right.
In the 100 seconds before midnight.
[Mild language warning] The Sharpener has been to some dark places recently, including death, loss and disease. Here, You’ll find an update, because, let’s face it, it’s been a while since we caught up, and I also want to lighten up the gloom, and share my path of reinvention through the pandemic and the birth of the virtual revolution known as the metaverse. If the past couple years have been about adjusting to the ‘new normal’, the road ahead will be about adjusting to a world of constant readjusting. Perhaps my story and thoughts through this will mean something to you as well, for whatever they’re worth. Much more The Sharpener blog and website.
My name sam. I’m furrocius. Everyone else is skerd. It’s hulerious.
Hullo
My name Sam. They sey I’m a dog. I came from Inglund when I was a bebby. I live in Grees now. My family is three brudders one mudder and one fadder. And a lady and a man who lives downsters. They are not herry like me. Don’t know why. Dunt ask. They can stay. But that’s it.
My brudder forgot and his electric box wuz opin so I rote sum stuff. Sorry if I rote sum stuff rong. I got no thums. That’s hard. But I like challenges. Like one time I stole I hole chickin from the kitchin when I was a bebby so I could eet it latur. I’m a jeeneeus.
I’m a gard dog. I fight the burgers and the rubbers that come to the house. So don’t try. I’m a munster boy. Wun time a man came with a flat box in a mothercycle. It smell good. He had a car with too weels and he wore a skerry hat. I barked when he came. I showed him my tooths. He knows I am the boss. I’m serberus.
I’m living my best life. My family livs in my house most of the day. They don’t go nowere. Like there skerd. Dunt knoe why. I’m a monster boy I will protect them. I HEYT door bell sound. introoder alert. I don’t like the walks.
I luv duck sausage, I like chewing on pinecones, I like playing catch with my toy. I like leying down next to the cold toylet bowl in the summer.
Tooday is my brudder’s burthday. He is my fave. But akchully my famly is my fave.
Happy Burthday!!
I luv toilet. Bowl is my fave.
I’m a skerry boy. I show my tooths to show hoos boss.
I’m a strong boy. I eksersize reggurly to get the stress out.
A meditation on life during the pandemic, and reasons to hope in these extraordinary times.
I make an attempt here to describe the characteristics of a unifying brand story, and brands that achieve unity in these disconnected times. 3 min read.
I have worked and studied from home extensively in recent years. Now I want to show you how I developed the mindset of working remotely. 5 min read.
Today I’m remembering three of the people I called mentors and their lives, as I read tributes to the ones who recently left us.
A brief overview of why I love the Hellenic-American Arts & Culture Magazine Portes, and why I think you should join NHSA’s beach cleanup this year. 1 min read.
For those who missed it, I recently hosted a live interview session with the readers and followers of my blog and podcast to ask them and take questions from them about the big picture questions affecting our media landscape and creativity. Below is the recording of that Q&A, with a brand new introduction by me. Here we go!
I discuss my experiences as a marketing volunteer at the National Hellenic Student Association. I show that the organisation's use of our shared culture to create a collaborative ecosystem of innovation could serve as a model for teamwork among Greeks, and for other creative environments.
My thoughts on the importance of Yannis Behrakis’ storytelling as a photojournalist. 1 min read.
The podcast version of the blog post from anastasisharp.com about the remarkable people in my life who have Parkinson's Disease, and the spirit that moved me to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research.