Open Poetry #48 |
On The First Anniversary My Heart Finally Broke (a repost) |
icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Still, I hear the pipes sing Amazing Grace I hear them in my dreams I hear the screams every day, months of cadenced march out of an open pit mine of souls, all day long and through the night in and out of mind until my heart ran out of song. Today bells ring, performers sing and everybody's priests ask gods for treats. Each name a moment held in all solemnity on edge to slip into eternity; pomp and circumstance, a ceremony's tears and choking fears that this will mean an end to the beginning of the years we mark remembering the dead, living dead names all run together, labels on one giant blended bleeding soul. If one more plastic politician says, ‘Let's roll,' I think I will be sick. The dead can sleep, where is peace for heart and soul that could bring quiet to the living? We mourned a year. We buried buttons and a watch, a rock, handfuls of dirt and ash, a shoe or two, some bone fragments, photographs in empty caskets, memories in sleepless nights full of empty arms and empty beds tears in empty hearts. It's time to leave the past. For some, we became as Death in a time to stalk revenge cold and crafted with precision in deserts, fields and mountains, where we are hated for existing, where gods are left with questions, where evil breeds in men, where each victory brings two graves and politicians bend the world back into their greed. So, the need, there are no answers and so, the killings never end. There is no grief beyond the love of that which death can steal. There is no deal to make, no memorial to shake the monstrous memories, smell, taste of human flesh and blood in ashes mixed with fuel melted steel vaporized concrete, grit that clogged our eyes a blessing in disguise; shame of hoping winds would change, the dream's there every day,turn back and turn away run, no where to go, who died when there is nothing left to hold but memories' deadly clouds thick choking terror floating wild in toxic air, horror grown so full that vision's lost, sounds of bodies hitting ground just beyond the reach of sight within the sounds, quick claws of fright, no where to hide. No where to hide. ©2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 by icebox (written, September 11, 2002; edited as above) |
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© Copyright 2013 icebox - All Rights Reserved | |||
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
As always, appreciated xoxoxo |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Thank you for reading!!! c. |
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s1nfully_1nn0c3nt Senior Member
since 2003-10-26
Posts 1105Watertown, NY |
"There is no grief beyond the love of that which death can steal. " Those lines are haunting. Thanks for sharing. -Trina |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
You have captured the essence of war. I maintain there is a need for war at certain times, but sometime the wars we fight are less than needed. Your gritty poetry should be read each morning when they call the two sections of Congress to order. I was too young for the Second World War and too old for Vietnam. I used to think I had missed out on fighting for liberty, but I have changed my mind. Although I used to say different, I think going to war in Vietnam was a very stupid decision. Thank you for posting this today, of all days. ~*~ If they give you lined paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
A beautiful rendering. It's almost shameful how time can numb those of us who didn't first hand lose someone that dark day to the complete grief and horror we all witnessed... for we all lost something, even though the majority of us have stood absolutely still since then, content to let the pain and passion bleed away one lousy red drop at a time. Excellent writing here, hopefully helping us to never forget. Michael |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Amen and Amen Lori |
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wranx Member Elite
since 2002-06-07
Posts 3689Moved from a shack to a barn |
Odd that it was 9/11 that started me writing. Its true that it was never something I'd considered doing This, though, says much of what I wanted to say better than I could say it |
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
Because of poetry such as yours, we will always remember "that day". Thank you , E |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Beethoven was so right when he said "A great poet is the most precious jewel of a nation." You have told our 9/11 story better than the news media ever could. Ida |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Being the wife of a Viet-Nam veteran for over 43 years, the scars of war show up in many ways...some yet for me to know. This touches the soul and will forever be words that could not be said better. M |
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