HOW DOES IT IMPACT OR INVOLVE ME?

I’m a million miles from nowhere

Surely I can relax, rest in peace

Ice to the south of us - warning, it’s melting

To the left, lay - for better or for worse - Australia

The North Island represents progress, busy bubbling

With activity; the South Island is fortified by the range 

of mountains running along its spine is symbolic

Of re-growth with a respect for tradition

A simplistic overview; it will do. am I to understand

that through air travel, technology in all its forms

The world has become interconnected; so what happens

In one part directly or indirectly impacts another?

This, the explanation goes, is why Covid 19

Became an international pandemic. Where do I opt-out?

The war’s in Ukraine, the Russians are the invaders

It’s affecting the distribution of food. It’s likely to eventually

Impact on our economy. We can’t cut ourselves off.

Like it or not we are part of the global village

The global economy - with its inequalities and restrictions

So I scream “No’” and sob “it’s not fair”; nobody hears

Too much shouting, arguing, dispute; no one’s listening

When and how did harmonious discourse die? Was it reported?

how does it impact or involve me? Involve me? As a member

Of a group, being either “citizens of New Zealand”

“People living in Canterbury” or “white people”

I am trapped under a group identity. Impact me?

Whatever happens, is whatever happens

In the international market, we've been stripped of our identity

We’re economic units; either producers or consumers

Young or old; we just consume different things

I’m a million miles from nowhere

Surely I can relax, rest in peace

Peace? What is peace? Does it make a profit?

War does! Conflict does! Peace? Don’t know.

Maybe we could try it.