The Olympics begin in two days.

China’s central government in Beijing, despite its pledges and promises to be open to media and the Internet, has agreed to allow free access for only “some” Internet domains. And Tienanmen Square has once again become a political staging ground as people protest their forced dislocation to make way for the new buildings that will house Olympic spectators. There have been limits to Beijing’s plege of change.

While the controversial Olympic Torch relay ended, there is a poetic one taking place, calling attention to human rights. If you haven’t already checked it out, see the PEN Poem Relay. This poetic passing of the torch not only celebrates the Olympic ideals, but reminds us that, for all humanity’s beautiful bodies, drive for achievement and national and international fellowship, we have shortcomings when it comes to celebrating and protecting our basic human rights.

Shi Tao, a Chinese poet and journalist, was arrested for an email he sent to pro-democracy websites in 2004. His poem “June,” which you can find here, has been passed from one language to another in translation.

This week I suggest you write a poem inspired by Shi Tao’s. Write your month.

Write a political poem, if you are so inclined. September is certainly a meaningful month for Americans. In April of this year, 52 American soldiers were killed in Iraq, 1,259 civilians. No matter your politics, this is something to mourn.

I read recently that September is International Self-Awareness month. Write something personal if you’d like. Does your calendar have a month marked that you look forward to, or dread? What if you had a month to live? Or a month to live in prison? Maybe you could save the world in a month. Maybe it took a month for a life-lesson to sink in. Write a poem that is a diary entry, a countdown, a promise.

Have a go! And have a good month!

~Ren.