Proud ViM,'Top Notes'

Our world has faced challenges many times over the course of its charred and destructive history. There have always been people and forces of evil with ill intent; bound by the dogged arrogance that their opinion and beliefs should be set upon the world. As we collectively, or rather those in the echelons of power, never seem to learn, the minions amongst us are invariably left holding the shattered glass of humanity. Bearing the consequences in our souls.

The digital scroll has made truth more difficult to decipher; oftentimes revealing more shadows than light. In a post-modern world that seems to be moving backwards and forwards simultaneously- advancing technologically unquestionably; but for all our self-proclaimed progress we are still suffocated by global challenges created by our own hand; from the environmental crises to social injustices and the unreliability of truth, the need for community has never been more palpable or needed.

Amongst the chaos, 'Voices in Minor' aims to be a tiny hope filled speck of heart amongst the divisive rhetoric and chaos of this earth we inhabit together. Since time and memorial storytelling has been the legacy of humankind – shared and passed down as gifts of a past from long ago. Thus, our weekly ‘ViM Top Notes’ is a celebration of the power of language to heal, to uplift, to provoke thought and to bring joy. Showcasing the works we have read by fellow creators is the highlight of our week. Truly.

Every story, every essay and every poem we share is a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the infinite ways in which creativity can be harnessed for good. In a world that often focuses on what divides us, these writers remind us of the beauty of what brings us together. Our experiences and our voices. And above all, our humanity.

We hope that you will find words that resonate with you and bring you what you need in any given moment:

Our February Finds:

Proud ViM Top Notes zeroth:

Proud ViM Top Notes 1:

Proud ViM Top Notes 2:

Proud ViM Top Notes 3:

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Proud ViM Top Notes 5:

Proud ViM Top Notes 6:

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Some words about being human to ponder;

"If—" by Rudyard Kipling:

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

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Note: Queer Vocal Voices is only accepting members of the LGBTQ+ community at the moment, we will open up to allies in time!

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