Incredibly powerful. Thanks for reminding us of the images of those children, and the brave resisters. So much to resist! There was a most unusual bear attack on a human recently. I believe the animals have figured out who is responsible for the devastation of their homelands and that that bear decided to fight back. We are more deadly to them than the "wild" ones are to us.
Am so sorry the bear attacked an innocent person, but humans are encroaching into their homes and sometimes the animals will fight back in fear and desperation. We have a lot of cases here of leopards entering farmland and now even cities. But we have destroyed their habitat. Where must they go?
I agree - they are displaced and wandering too close to dangerous humans, to their peril. I imagine they feel very threatened and desperate. I am definitely on the animals' side. Smiles.
This is a ways down the road from memory - "I do with courage what I do with grief. /
Swipe left. Keep scrolling." Leave those children faded in the rear-view mirror. Honesty like this is so hard for poetry to bear, but it's our job to honestly apprize the burden.
Apathy is the currency of our times, isn’t it. So many can just watch cities levelled, children slaughtered, human rights eroded, earth destroyed and feel and do nothing. And every now and then, someone will do something so organically brave and kind that it reminds us of all what we can do but don’t. Thank you, Brendan.
I remember this very well on a personal level. My brother was right there with her and was also partially buried in rubble but survived and was dug out by small boys, then he accompanied Rachel's body back to the US. I've tried to write about it a couple times but can't seem to get anything I'm happy with, maybe because I only heard it all secondhand while I was safely tucked up in an American college. Anyway, you wrote powerful poem. thanks
Dear Jacquelyn…there are no words…am so glad your brother is OK. From a distance, we just see the pictures and appreciate the courage - but there are so many people involved, so much strength and sacrifice and we don’t know them or their names of their loved ones and families. Huge respect to him and those on the frontlines fighting our battles. And I hear what you are saying about not being able to write about it all. Apologies if my poem brought up bad memories. ❤️
Please, no apology necessary. The memories are there regardless and it is good to see someone else recognizing the courage and impact of her actions, as well as all the others in your poem.
Wow, your writing is so uncompromising! (Someone has to be,)
Thank you… was responding to what was happening in India in the last month. It’s always the young, the students, who show us the mirror.
Yes, always.
Profound poetry as always.
It woke me up
Thanks so much, Nina. 🙏
Dear Rajani,
With each passing day, I understand the import of memories more and more.
Love,
Mahdi
True that, Mahdi. Hope it is all sorted soon. Thank you.
Incredibly powerful. Thanks for reminding us of the images of those children, and the brave resisters. So much to resist! There was a most unusual bear attack on a human recently. I believe the animals have figured out who is responsible for the devastation of their homelands and that that bear decided to fight back. We are more deadly to them than the "wild" ones are to us.
Am so sorry the bear attacked an innocent person, but humans are encroaching into their homes and sometimes the animals will fight back in fear and desperation. We have a lot of cases here of leopards entering farmland and now even cities. But we have destroyed their habitat. Where must they go?
I agree - they are displaced and wandering too close to dangerous humans, to their peril. I imagine they feel very threatened and desperate. I am definitely on the animals' side. Smiles.
This is a ways down the road from memory - "I do with courage what I do with grief. /
Swipe left. Keep scrolling." Leave those children faded in the rear-view mirror. Honesty like this is so hard for poetry to bear, but it's our job to honestly apprize the burden.
Apathy is the currency of our times, isn’t it. So many can just watch cities levelled, children slaughtered, human rights eroded, earth destroyed and feel and do nothing. And every now and then, someone will do something so organically brave and kind that it reminds us of all what we can do but don’t. Thank you, Brendan.
Keep it up, Rajani. Paralysis may be the essence of chillin’ in the Anthropocene, a stillness which might as well be dead already.
"In an orange jacket,
Rachel facing
a moving bulldozer"
I remember this very well on a personal level. My brother was right there with her and was also partially buried in rubble but survived and was dug out by small boys, then he accompanied Rachel's body back to the US. I've tried to write about it a couple times but can't seem to get anything I'm happy with, maybe because I only heard it all secondhand while I was safely tucked up in an American college. Anyway, you wrote powerful poem. thanks
Dear Jacquelyn…there are no words…am so glad your brother is OK. From a distance, we just see the pictures and appreciate the courage - but there are so many people involved, so much strength and sacrifice and we don’t know them or their names of their loved ones and families. Huge respect to him and those on the frontlines fighting our battles. And I hear what you are saying about not being able to write about it all. Apologies if my poem brought up bad memories. ❤️
Please, no apology necessary. The memories are there regardless and it is good to see someone else recognizing the courage and impact of her actions, as well as all the others in your poem.
🙏❤️