Marigold
Written by Kym Davies
As I walked out into the blinding light, I felt a moment of peace.
Beauty is all I have, and the sun was a glorious reflection of the dark hole in my chest.
I looked down to the garden bed, with the grass glistering in the enduring frost.
The Marigolds are reaching out for the sun, splendid in their reflection of the morning. Orange and pink and blue, with grey clouds and piercing white light. The gruelling darkness of the night vanquished in a spray of colour and warmth.
‘I will not kill myself today’, I thought. The Marigolds would not like it. Would they grieve my passing or only be indifferent? I think they would live on, in their vivid sturdiness, searching for the light.
I will plant hundreds of trees today, which I will never sit under. And this is a glorious thing.
I get into my filthy car, with my filthy clothes and mind, and drive forward, east towards the sunrise.
I finally arrive after a mind melting drive down the freeway. Angry men tweekers in double bs, 4wd utes and commodores, terrorise my travels. Karens and Sharon’s late for work. Doing their makeup in the rear view mirror, raging along in their giant cars. I am angry and ironic behind the wheel, and overly verbose. Merge bitch!
The sunrise melts into a dark sky. My car is small, as small as I.
“Hi Kym, how are you?” He asks with a forced smile and an uncertain heart. The insecurity is palpable. The contrived hand gestures thrive wile barely hidden hatred comes to the surface. I have equal parts empathy and annoyance. I struggle to be accommodating and professional, but my thoughts linger on the negative. Why must my anxiety present as arsehole? I guess I just don’t like being continually patronised by a foetus.
I struggle to put on the protection I need. It takes too much time. I am already exhausted. I forget what I need and have to return again and again to my filthy car.
I persist.
As I kneel down again and again, one plant after another, it is perfect and tedious.
A great reflection of all things equally bad and great.
Hard work. I dig hole after hole. Thousands of holes for trees and shrubs and rushes and grasses, I will never sit near or under.
They are not for me, but for others. And this is the beauty of the work. White noise of the machine silence’s my mind, my hand cramps along with my shoulder.
Again and again he tells me how to do simple things. He.
Unqualified advice and information. ‘Oh shut the Fuck up’ I murmur in my horror. I try to be nice. But how do you be nice to someone whom takes tools, that you clearly know how to use, out of your hand, and tells the same story over and over again, endlessly, while never asking another person or plant how they are, what they are, and never ever stops for a moment to listen? Is this just another reflection?
Please let me finish a sentence!
It’s a lesson in letting others speak. Listening. Like the plants and the tress and the flowers. They listen.
When the afternoon rain comes I am ready. It rains and rains, the wind blows.
I trudge home with a joyous heart and a freezing body, confused by the anxiety, absurdity and ambivalence.
Beauty is all I crave. I try, endlessly. I am so stubborn and vulnerable, like the trees and the flowers.
The Marigold is average, but helps the other plants survive and grow.
I come home to my garden, my Marigolds.
.
Kym Martine Davies
Noble Park NTH.VIC. 3174.
0421552040
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BRICS Wargames: Why They Matter — And Why India Chose to Sit Out
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The Rise of BRICS Military Exercises Historically, BRICS has been portrayed as primarily economic, focused on initiatives like the New Development Bank (NDB) and trade agreements aimed at reducing Western dominance. But recent years have seen an evolution. Military drills among BRICS members are increasingly prominent, especially in the context of global tension and regional conflicts. These wargames are about more than just tactical drills. They serve multiple purposes: Strategic signaling: By conducting joint exercises, BRICS countries demonstrate unity and military capability to the rest of the world. Operational readiness: Countries test their ability to coordinate in complex scenarios, from humanitarian missions to potential combat operations. Diplomatic leverage: The exercises send subtle messages to other global powers, indicating that BRICS members can collaborate beyond economic forums. For nations like Russia, recently facing sanctions and international scrutiny, these exercises are particularly important. They showcase the ability to maintain partnerships and project power despite global isolation. For China, it is a way to cement strategic influence in Asia and beyond. Why BRICS Wargames Matter Globally The significance of these exercises extends beyond the bloc itself. Analysts note several key implications: Challenge to NATO and U.S. influence: BRICS wargames signal that alternative power centers exist outside Western-led military alliances. Regional security dynamics: Countries bordering BRICS members, particularly in South Asia, Africa, and Latin America, must monitor these developments carefully. Economic-military linkages: Military coordination among major emerging economies could shape security considerations in trade corridors, energy supply routes, and resource-rich regions. In essence, BRICS wargames are not just about soldiers and tanks, but about the broader geopolitical landscape: signaling, strategy, and shaping perceptions of influence. India’s Calculated Decision to Opt Out While Russia, China, Brazil, and South Africa have shown interest in participating actively, India has strategically chosen to abstain from the most recent wargames. This decision may appear surprising, given India’s economic and political stake in BRICS, but several factors explain it. Geopolitical balancing: India maintains complex relations with both China and Russia. While it has defense and historical ties with Russia, its relationship with China has grown tense due to border disputes and regional competition. Joining a wargame with China could be politically and militarily sensitive. Alignment with Western partnerships: India has strengthened ties with Western-led coalitions, including the Quad (U.S., Japan, Australia, India). Participating in BRICS military drills could conflict with these alliances, potentially sending mixed signals. Strategic autonomy: India has long emphasized a policy of strategic autonomy — making decisions based on national interest rather than bloc pressure. Opting out allows India to maintain flexibility in foreign policy and avoid entanglement in exercises that may not align with its regional objectives. Domestic perception: Indian public opinion and political narratives favor cautious engagement with China and Russia on military matters. Skipping the wargames minimizes domestic criticism of appearing too closely aligned with either of the more assertive BRICS powers. What India Gains by Sitting Out Choosing not to participate does not mean India is disengaged from BRICS. Economically and diplomatically, it remains a key player in the bloc. By skipping the wargames, India can: Maintain regional credibility in South Asia while avoiding the perception of aligning militarily with China. Signal strategic independence, reinforcing its image as a nation that prioritizes national security over bloc politics. Focus on bilateral and multilateral exercises elsewhere, such as those with the U.S., Japan, and Australia, which are more aligned with India’s current security priorities. In short, opting out allows India to navigate the delicate balance between its BRICS commitments and broader global strategic interests. Implications for BRICS and Global Security India’s abstention also reflects broader trends within BRICS: the bloc is not monolithic. While economic cooperation is often strong, military integration faces political and strategic limits. Differing national interests, historical rivalries, and regional tensions prevent uniform alignment. For global observers, this is crucial. 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