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Open Poetry #18
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Midnitesun
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Gaia

0 posted 2002-01-19 10:26 PM


I remember Hadera,
and eating falafels
from the street vendors.
I remember Haifa,
and the view from Mt. Carmel,
the Gardens at the Bahai shrine
on the hill overlooking the harbor.
I remember climbing Masada at sunrise
and looking out over the Dead Sea.
I remember laughing and floating
with friends from around the world,
as we held hands in a circle sitting
in the salty waters of the Dead Sea.
And I remember Tel Aviv,
and the bus behind mine blowing up
and my driver speeding away
without a glance
in the rear view mirror.
And I remember Jerusalem,
and the Via De La Rosa,
a holy street for many.
And I remember walking that street one day
and a grenade exploding a few feet away
and a 12 year old Arab girl blown away
and buried the next day.
And I remember tatoos on the arms
of my Jewish friends from Auschwitz.
And I look around today
and have to look away in tears
and wonder about our world.
And I remember I have a child
who wants to listen to music, draw,
and ride horses in Peace.
Peace.
Elusive Peace.
And I remember MLK today
and he reminds me not to look away.
He reminds me to stay focussed,
to have a dream.
And so I keep my eyes
turned upwards to blue skies,
and my heart filled with Love.
And I go to bed each night
and pray for Peace.
Elusive Peace.


May the ripple of LOVE
become the wave of PEACE

© Copyright 2002 Kathleen Kacy Stafford - All Rights Reserved
Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
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Canada eh.
1 posted 2002-01-19 10:43 PM


You pray for Peace as we all do Kacy....we all do.
Wonder-filled write...very thought provoking.
~Tender hugs my friend, Nancy~

~Time has cast a spell on you,
  So you won't ever forget me~

Silver Streak
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since 2002-01-02
Posts 3625
FL, USA
2 posted 2002-01-19 10:49 PM


A beautiful expression of caring. I join you in praying for peace, knowing that peace can only come through love. And love must start with me. I send you my love.
-Silver Streak

Sharing God's Love through perfectlovepoetry.com

Copyright: 2002 Newell Elsworth Usher

Seymour Tabin
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Tamarac Fla
3 posted 2002-01-19 10:54 PM


Midnitesun,
A well written piece and I hope your dream comes true. *L*

Midnitesun
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Gaia
4 posted 2002-01-19 10:55 PM


Nancy, thank you. This week has been a heavy heart week for me, as I have so many Israeli and Arab friends who daily live in terror.

Newell, thank you, and perhaps our communal prayers will someday be acted upon, and hate will be set aside to make room for Love.  

Midnitesun
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5 posted 2002-01-19 10:58 PM


Thank you for reading and commenting, Sy.
The kibbutz I lived on for a year was barely 5 km from Hadera. The news this week brought many tears and memories.

Startime
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since 2000-10-03
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6 posted 2002-01-19 11:04 PM


*sigh* my heart goes out to all of them....there is so much pain and suffering..I gladly add my prayers to yours that peace will come to us all and that children around the world can grow up loving each other and not fearing and hating each other for acts they did not commit. **big hugs**

Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams.

Midnitesun
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Gaia
7 posted 2002-01-19 11:10 PM


Your heart is always so filled with Love and compassion, Karen. If only all the hearts on Earth would be so loving, perhaps Peace would be a reality instead of a dream.
Mistletoe Angel
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8 posted 2002-01-20 12:12 PM




(tears fall down my cheeks) God Bless You, sweet friend, you have such a loving and compassionate heart and I too wish there could be more loving and compassionate people in this world! (sigh) I join you in your heartfelt prayers, sweet friend, it saddens me to see all this violence and sorrow and I hold true the echo of MLK and wish for Elusive Peace for all mankind. (kiss on cheek) God Bless you, sweet friend, this is so sad but beautiful, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Kacy, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

Larry C
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9 posted 2002-01-20 12:33 PM


Kacy,
Oh the longing for sweet peace. If only...

Midnitesun
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Gaia
10 posted 2002-01-20 01:35 AM


Noah, we all know where your heart is. It's out there, hugging everyone every single day. And I know you will help to keep  MLK's dream alive, for it is the same dream all peaceful hearts dream.

Larry, you sweet peacemaker you. You dream the same dreams, and it shows in your poetry and comraderie.

[This message has been edited by Midnitesun (01-20-2002 01:38 AM).]

Sunshine
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Listening to every heart
11 posted 2002-01-20 07:21 AM



You went around the world with this one Kacy.  And very well, I might add.  It is a most difficult chore to bring politics into poetry [although it is done a lot,] as it usually tramples feelings, but with this, you've bonded those in search of the same thing...

Peace.

Kudos.

Canuckster
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since 2002-01-09
Posts 285
New Mexico, USA
12 posted 2002-01-20 07:29 AM


Abstract longing for peace along side the all too prevelant images of war and hate.

We certainly have a different view of all of this now.

It's no longer disturbing images on a screen an ocean away.  It is here and it is real and the best of our youth are now in harm's way fighting to preserve the peace in which freedom lays.

Your poem catches so much.  MLK's dream is still alive.  The more surreal our own surroundings become, the brighter that dream and the dream of all who would see peace instituted becomes.

Mac Attack
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since 2001-12-12
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13 posted 2002-01-20 08:30 AM


Ouch!  This one opens an old wound and hurts.  I too dream of peace and fear for the loss of that dream.  Thanks for the reminder.  It's a good post!
walker
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14 posted 2002-01-20 08:37 AM


Just the poem I needed to read, thanks.
Midnitesun
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15 posted 2002-01-20 10:35 AM


Karilea, thank you for that reply. It's feels like big warm hug. I'm sure I've trampled a few times.

Canukster, thank you for your thoughtful reply. War and violence has never really been abstract for me, I've lived  in the middle of too much of it. You are right, it is closer to 'home' for many this time. And MLK's dream will stay alive 'till there is no longer a need for it.

Mac, wouldn't Peace be a most wonderful bandage for all those wounds? Hugs to you.

walker, thank you. Peaceful thoughts and wishes to you.


Tracey
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since 2001-08-29
Posts 2808
where insanity meets breeding
16 posted 2002-01-20 06:19 PM


Elusive peace. Yes, when will we finally see it? It always astounds me that in our supposedly enlightened times, that there is still war and fighting. Keep the dream alive, maybe one day it can come true.

If she who dies with the most toys wins, then can I have some toy boys please?

Irish Rose
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since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263

17 posted 2002-01-20 06:35 PM


thank you for this, Kathleen..

Kathleen--(Kay)
A true friend does not love you for who you are, but in spite of who you are." -- Caroline Tran

Lone Wolf
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since 2000-03-16
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18 posted 2002-01-20 10:34 PM


This was awesome, Midnitesun.  Thank you for sharing.  

All writing comes
by the grace of God.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Madame Chipmunk
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since 2001-12-05
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Michigan
19 posted 2002-01-20 10:51 PM


Thanks for writing this and sharing it with us, Kacy...
I think this poem is an important one for everyone to read.
Throughout recorded history, most of the wars we've ever had have been fought over religious or ethnic differences.
It amazes me that in all of these centuries, mankind still has not learned it's lesson about peace.
I join you in praying for world peace.

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Balladeer
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20 posted 2002-01-20 10:56 PM


I can feel your emotion in every line, Kacey. There are so many millions of peace-loving people around the world who feel the same...such a pity that the ones who can do something about it don't. I'm afraid MLK's dream shall remain only that for a long time to come...
Midnitesun
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21 posted 2002-01-21 12:18 PM


Kathleen, Tracey, Lone Wolf, Lyra, Balladeer, thanks for reading and commenting. This one was a difficult write, but one that seemed to urgently press my fingers to the keys. Each and every life lost through violence is a black mark on the page of humanity. We can only hope that each one actively teaching Love, fairness  and compassion might eventually turn the tide in another direction. Thanks for your love, it is a powerful force.

[This message has been edited by Midnitesun (01-21-2002 12:21 AM).]

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