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| Demonstration in support of asylum seekers in Paris on September 5, 2015. ©AFP |
Build strong bridges and
backs to carry more
backs to carry more
world-weary weight with
age (both earth’s and ours).
age (both earth’s and ours).
Tell border-crossing
tales. Communicate
tales. Communicate
in movement. Show,
don’t
tell, that all can hear.
tell, that all can hear.
Are you more hungry,
curious or scared?
curious or scared?
Exchanging hopes in
silent boats and trains.
silent boats and trains.
With many rivers
to cross before you
to cross before you
find welcome signs in
lonely hands and eyes.
lonely hands and eyes.
If you ever stumble
across the kind
across the kind
and curious, surprised
by their own love.
by their own love.
Orphans have waited
long and home-lessly,
long and home-lessly,
their parents gone and
dream time aborted.
dream time aborted.
But you must hold your
hope like wooden rafts
hope like wooden rafts
as if there were no
other food and drink.
other food and drink.
And you must find our
open door and stores,
we wee last remnants open door and stores,
of humanity.
Love being reminded, again, of MLK's statement that "when men and women straighten their backs up they are going somewhere because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent"
ReplyDeleteLast couple days, I have been doing head stand yoga poses. Like the way it frees me from tension in my spine and helps me sit/stand straight up
Absolutely beautiful verse Susan. I love the sharing tales of border crossings as it is packed with meaning . This is a gentle call to action. To live a life intentionally.
ReplyDeleteCommunicate
ReplyDeletein movement. Show, don’t
tell, that all can hear.
We should strive to accomplish all that we strongly believe in.. and make it known so that others shall come to join.
Beautifully penned :D
Lots of love,
Sanaa
This is so beautifully expressed. I especially love holding our hope like wooden rafts. It is good to see people being galvanized into action. On the news they said 50% of Syria's population has been displaced. Fifty percent. War creates only suffering and gains nothing.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully penned, each and every line! Praying for Syria!
ReplyDeletelove worded into a beautiful poem..."But you must hold your / hope like wooden rafts" love this....
ReplyDeleteHow fragile are those rafts...
DeleteAt the Dead Man’s House
The world is changing faster than we can process the change. Refugees from Asia and Africa will change the face of Europe forever - yet government seems totally unprepared. We, the spectators, can only watch the human tragedy unfolding.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do hope they keep hope; and I hope that their hope is rewarded. We do need to open our doors and our stores to them. All of us must do something to help.
ReplyDeleteSo very timely .. I feel there is a force of change blowing right now.. maybe the zealous few can go back into hiding and let compassion rule again. Imagine what one picture can change... I wonder what it will look like in years to come.
ReplyDeleteOh the beauty through the sadness in your words touched me deeply. Where I live we are a major stop for refugees from around the world. Many are brought to central NY state to begin again....and the school district I worked in and community had services for these brave people who were now uprooted in a strange place so hopeful. I wish we did not have to have so many people displaced by war.
ReplyDeleteTo stay at once positive and realistic in the face of all this, and write a beautiful poem into the bargain - no mean feat!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that line about exchanging hopes in silent boats and trains. Truly poetic!
ReplyDeleteThis really touched me, Susan. I love the hope it offers.
ReplyDeleteA timely and heartfelt piece - your words evocative, poignant and - in a torrent of despair and hopelessness - a note of hope and faith that the world will take action.
ReplyDeleteShow don't tell is a philosophy that certainly should be applied to life as well as writing...i hope we all have the humanity to treat our fellow humans as we would like to be treated...an insightful and thoughtful poem - thank you also for your wonderful comment
ReplyDeleteah...a poem for the refugees. thanks Susan for your awareness of the current events. :)
ReplyDeleteAn important poem. Lets hope it makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteTouching..
ReplyDelete