There's something missing. Not that you're missing it, Manuel. But rather the drum beat of Israel's oppression, which is obvious, eclipses the other reality - Hamas. I don't have the words yet for how all of this horror gives Hamas cover - they remain in power, they await underground for the world to play out the drama. The Palestinian people suffer and die. Even the three countries coming forward last week to recognize a Palestinian state (something I fully support) without comment about Hamas' abuse of their own people speaks volumes. I'm not sure what I'm after here ... TY for giving a space for my unformed thoughts. This is the poem I wrote:
SPLIT SCREEN
No abstraction, no curious riddle, or hummingbird’s love song.
Only hard truth – voiceless images.
I put on a red dress that day – she loaded a pot and blanket onto an ox cart.
Who believes miracles come in packages labeled tragedy?
Neatly wrapped up in chaos and starvation, children losing limbs, parents buried alive…
I made a cappuccino – she didn’t watch the sunrise.
Stumbling amid the dust of crumbling buildings; she coughed up the blood of war.
Karen, thank you for your comment and for your poignant and inspiring poem that succinctly says so much. Thank you for your compassion.
We must move beyond religions, philosophies, ethnicities, nationalities, political parties...We must move into the essence of compassion and call out abuse wherever it is found.
Oh, that would be ... why I write : ) To share. Thank you.
Manuel, I have yet to figure out how to post poems with the correct stanza breaks (they seem conserve space when it posts) - if you'd like, I'll describe how it's actually laid out (first stanza - two lines, second - one line, third - two lines and so forth ... 2-1-2-1-2-1
Mary (Pocket Full of Prose) has offered to help me in June with the technology in order to kick-off my own substack - stay tuned!!
Thank you, Karen. There is a function in Substack to preserve poem structure. I will you use it when I post yours and walk you through the process if you wish. 🙏🏻
OH! I'll take a look for that - and put it on the list when I meet with Mary. TY - if I can't figure this out, I'll get back to you. Much appreciated. BTW, I post photos with my poems and if you're interested, the one for this poem is here: (Image by hosny salah from Pixabay)
I just sent you a "message" with the image you sent me and the poem as I think you want to see it. I can tell you what I did if it meets your specifications.
Everyone focuses on how Hamas started this "war" to wipe out the Israelis, while ignoring the fact that it is Israel's stated purpose, according to Netanyahu, to wipe out the Palestinians; he calls them all Hamas, and under that criteria feels justified in his inhumane drive to wipe them from Gaza completely. Yes, Israelis should have a homeland, but to "move" the occupants into a small strip of land and then systemically proceed to shrink it, to terrorize those living in it, is contemptuous and something that no one has been willing to address. Its seems as though the world feels so guilty over allowing the Holocaust to occur that they have created a monster that feels vindicated in subjecting others to the same horrors. Netanyahu needs to be removed. Maybe then the healing can begin.
I agree. Thanks for your comment, Lauri. I think that intolerance of the other is at the root of this centuries-old strife. Maybe we need to address what is before our eyes with compassion. What has been done cannot be undone— the warring parties must seek justice for the other side in today's reality— they each have the power to transform today's chaos into a liveable existence.
There's something missing. Not that you're missing it, Manuel. But rather the drum beat of Israel's oppression, which is obvious, eclipses the other reality - Hamas. I don't have the words yet for how all of this horror gives Hamas cover - they remain in power, they await underground for the world to play out the drama. The Palestinian people suffer and die. Even the three countries coming forward last week to recognize a Palestinian state (something I fully support) without comment about Hamas' abuse of their own people speaks volumes. I'm not sure what I'm after here ... TY for giving a space for my unformed thoughts. This is the poem I wrote:
SPLIT SCREEN
No abstraction, no curious riddle, or hummingbird’s love song.
Only hard truth – voiceless images.
I put on a red dress that day – she loaded a pot and blanket onto an ox cart.
Who believes miracles come in packages labeled tragedy?
Neatly wrapped up in chaos and starvation, children losing limbs, parents buried alive…
I made a cappuccino – she didn’t watch the sunrise.
Stumbling amid the dust of crumbling buildings; she coughed up the blood of war.
While she wondered how the world would end,
I prayed the revelation would begin.
Karen, thank you for your comment and for your poignant and inspiring poem that succinctly says so much. Thank you for your compassion.
We must move beyond religions, philosophies, ethnicities, nationalities, political parties...We must move into the essence of compassion and call out abuse wherever it is found.
May I post your poem, SPLIT SCREEN, as a note?
Oh, that would be ... why I write : ) To share. Thank you.
Manuel, I have yet to figure out how to post poems with the correct stanza breaks (they seem conserve space when it posts) - if you'd like, I'll describe how it's actually laid out (first stanza - two lines, second - one line, third - two lines and so forth ... 2-1-2-1-2-1
Mary (Pocket Full of Prose) has offered to help me in June with the technology in order to kick-off my own substack - stay tuned!!
As always thank you for what you do.
Thank you, Karen. There is a function in Substack to preserve poem structure. I will you use it when I post yours and walk you through the process if you wish. 🙏🏻
Here’s the actual photo - sorry the previous note wasn’t specific.
https://pixabay.com/photos/man-palestinian-flag-smoke-burning-6860636/
OH! I'll take a look for that - and put it on the list when I meet with Mary. TY - if I can't figure this out, I'll get back to you. Much appreciated. BTW, I post photos with my poems and if you're interested, the one for this poem is here: (Image by hosny salah from Pixabay)
I just sent you a "message" with the image you sent me and the poem as I think you want to see it. I can tell you what I did if it meets your specifications.
Impactful image! Thank you!
Everyone focuses on how Hamas started this "war" to wipe out the Israelis, while ignoring the fact that it is Israel's stated purpose, according to Netanyahu, to wipe out the Palestinians; he calls them all Hamas, and under that criteria feels justified in his inhumane drive to wipe them from Gaza completely. Yes, Israelis should have a homeland, but to "move" the occupants into a small strip of land and then systemically proceed to shrink it, to terrorize those living in it, is contemptuous and something that no one has been willing to address. Its seems as though the world feels so guilty over allowing the Holocaust to occur that they have created a monster that feels vindicated in subjecting others to the same horrors. Netanyahu needs to be removed. Maybe then the healing can begin.
I agree. Thanks for your comment, Lauri. I think that intolerance of the other is at the root of this centuries-old strife. Maybe we need to address what is before our eyes with compassion. What has been done cannot be undone— the warring parties must seek justice for the other side in today's reality— they each have the power to transform today's chaos into a liveable existence.