Jacinda Ardern’s politics of love—a song

Cartoon: a huge Trump-like figure looms over a tiny New Zealand holding hands with 10 small people
In New Zealand, we have Jacinda Ardern’s politics of love. Forget greatness: we like being small
In our smallness is our greatness
in our suchness is our muchness
in our we-ness is our us-ness.
that's the politics of love

thus saith Jacinda
we won't be torn asunder

in our melding is our welding
in our kindness is our strength
from our listening comes our action
that's the politics of love

stop with the beat beat beat
stop with the win win win
stop with the greatest ever
stop with the crazy spin

when you haven't got the numbers
and you haven't got the millions
and very very good is good enough—
that's the politics of love

a little pause before you talk 
a little give and take
a little grace, a little space
it's not a lot to ask
for the politics of love

thus saith Jacinda
we won't be torn asunder

It’s just a little ditty about Jacinda Ardern’s politics of love in New Zealand

I know, I know—but plenty of song lyrics are almost doggerel, so no apologies.

I wish I could write the music too. Why don’t you?

28 thoughts on “Jacinda Ardern’s politics of love—a song

  1. Rhona Bronson says:

    Being in the U.S. with President Big Mouth and little of anything else, I truly love the poem/lyrics and am jealous of your insightful female leader!

  2. Sadje says:

    This is fantastic poem and ideology.

  3. myrak says:

    Loved this and I sent it to Jacinda! (:

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      You’re kidding! Now that’s what can happen in a small country, right?

  4. Alan Ralph says:

    As someone who’s Anglo-Italian, I think both of my home nations could benefit from letting go of the nostalgic memories of greatness and instead celebrate who they are today and what they can achieve when they come together.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Well said. So true.

  5. alison41 says:

    I so admire your PM and you are so lucky to have her. And you wrote a great ditty.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Thanks Alison. We are far from perfect but we sure are lucky.

  6. hilarymb says:

    Hi Rachel – yes as the others have said … she seems to be setting great examples for the rest of the world to follow … we need kindness, compassion, thoughtfulness and clear-headed advice … love the poem and hope we can get to know what she thought about it! Enjoy – take care though … HIlary

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      She always had that concept in mind. And all my life I’ve fretted and wondered why politicians were expected to be aggressive and mean to the party in opposition. Why is it the norm? Schoolyard stuff.

  7. Rachel McAlpine says:

    Dear oh dear. There is no end.

  8. Mick Canning says:

    You’re very lucky to have her – she’s brilliant!

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      She is certainly bucking a global trend

      1. Mick Canning says:

        Sadly, very true.

  9. Wendy says:

    Brilliant Rachel. I was captured by her gentler way of doing business and am pleased to see the end of the mean kids being in charge. Here’s hoping that another 3 years will see an epidemic of kindness in the beehive.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      I’ll drink to that with my morning kombucha!

  10. Joared says:

    Delightful sentiments whether a nation is small or large.

  11. myrak says:

    No not kidding Rachel re Poem to Jacinda…. I also congratulated her and said I’d voted for her from over here in Melbourne and that I’d known you for 51 years!!!! Can happen in humongous countries too ha ha. Myra xxhugxx PS Having a delightful second double doughnut day here in Melbourne…everyone’s ecstatic ( apart from the measly minded naysayers).

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Wow! Nice. I listened to Coronacast and got a hint of the Melbourne ecstasy. Double doughnut days you have well and truly earned x

  12. I feel so privileged to live in New Zealand under her guidance right now. She gets a lot of hate from her detractors but she has given us freedom right now where this is not possible in most other covid affected places.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      In the time of Covid 19, leaders are “damned if they do and damned if they don’t” so we sure got lucky.

      1. Yeah exactly it is just a fluke really and we are so lucky. I hope you had a nice weekend. Just went walking with my boyfriend now having some fish n chips..nice Sunday take care 🌄😁

  13. myrak says:

    Have just had my first sit down coffee in a cafe since March here in Melbourne. As off today Victoria (71) now has less active covid cases than NZ (75)….everyone is feeling very optimistic today.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      That was awesome news. We could feel that statewide sigh of relief from here.

  14. myrak says:

    5 double doughnut days in a row now!!!!!!

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Eat drink and be merry in Melbourne, out of lockdown at last!

  15. myrak says:

    Here was reply today from PM’S office……

    Dear Myra
    Jacinda has asked me to pass on her thanks for your thoughtful and kind message.
    She appreciates your support very much.
    Best wishes

    Dinah Okeby
    Office of the Prime MinisterJacinda

    Ardern’s politics of love in New Zealand-Rachel Mc Alpine-one of NZ’s great poets-my teacher from 51 years ago-now 80 yrs old.

    Dear Jacinda,

    Great to have been able to vote for you from Australia…Congratulations.

    Wonderful poem here from my lovely teacher. Hope you love her poem as much as I did today.

    Kind Regards,
    Myra

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Only in New Zealand. Well Myra, you made my day. A thousand thanks xx

%d bloggers like this: