26 Comments
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Andy Smith's avatar

what a beautiful, heartbreaking piece, Rajani. Knowing that you wrote it over two years ago and that all this violence has only intensified since then, adds to the brokenness.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you, Andy... seems endless, doesn't it??

Trish Vanson's avatar

Thank you for sharing! I was so sure you just wrote it. It's so necessary to acknowledge the brokenness.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you, Trish. Does feel like nothing’s changed….

Nina Carroll's avatar

Thank you for putting into spare and elegant poetry what so many of us are feeling.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Nina. 🙏

Laura Coleman's avatar

Wow, this is a powerful and moving poem! This line really struck me,

“how can we mourn all the dead

one, just one, takes up all our grief”

I have felt this, how one loss tore me apart, and yet it is being with our collective loss and grief that we can heal. Sending love to our broken world. 💜

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you, Laura 🙏

PresentWordTravels-by Sammi 静辰's avatar

This poem struck me deeply and painfully. Praying for peace and light to find their way through all the cracks.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much.

Poetry Tracks In the Snow's avatar

Ranjani-how can we not write of war and brokenness? Your words resonate in this broken world and they shine light in the darkness.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much for your kind words. 🙏

Kerfe's avatar

Whatever wholeness we manage to piece together will be very different. I just hope we don't lose too many vital parts.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Like humanity or a moral compass… true. Thank you, K.

Namratha Varadharajan's avatar

So true.

how can we mourn all the dead

one, just one, takes up all our grief.

Too overwhelming!

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

It is overwhelming and also never seems to stop…. :(

Manisha Sahoo's avatar

How disheartening it is that even after 2 years, this poem remains relevant. Even if that war had ended, there's more and more happening these days. Broken, broken world, indeed

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Sadly so, Manisha… thanks so much for reading.

Sherry Marr's avatar

As always, you say what I am feeling and dont have the words to express so well. I love the jasmine wind, and the speaking in sentences without any words. Ha, right now makes two years ago look like world peace. War is as insane as the demented person who started it, randomly, one middle of the night. This time, I fear the repercussions will be global.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you, Sherry… yes we’re feeling the impact here in India already.

Rosemary Nissen-Wade's avatar

Being in the middle of the shattering too, I have no answers but can only identify with the questions. Beautifully and heart-rendingly written.

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Rosemary. It is sad that a poem like this over two years old is still relevant…it shouldn’t be…. :(

Jodi Proctor's avatar

“how can we mourn all the dead

one, just one, takes up all our grief

how can we write thousands of elegies

one, just one, is all we can read.” 💔 These words echo my thoughts Rajani. My heart breaks with yours. 🖤

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you, Jodi… what a mess the world is in. I hope peace stands a chance.

Rebecca Cook's avatar

Beautiful, Rajani. How broken must the world be, before........

Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

before…. yeah that’s a scary thought. Thank you for reading, Rebecca.