Open Poetry #34 |
It Was Not I |
Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
It Was Not I Oh, how I hurt! Oh how my weary heart does wail and weep! It was not I who watched my child slip into the deep I was not witness to the ravage under Asian skies (but through a lens where waters roared so distant from my eyes) No wicked tide knocked down my walls nor pilfered all I own Uprooting home and family and all the seeds I’d sewn My future did not vanish in the fury of the waves My life was not consumed by rifts in underwater caves My heart aches of catastrophe too great to comprehend But was not marred indelibly in ways that scars can’t mend And so I view the destitute in visions of my sleep Though it’s not I who watched my child slip into the deep The sorrow dealt are deathly tolls that far surpass my strife For they cannot be measured by the moments of my life That tide is ever infamous That day is ever black This sea still roars in rhythms without ever looking back I was not there. I was not witness to that tragic hour Although my spirit trembles at the ocean’s mighty power It’s not for me, my shattered heart still longs to grieve and weep Nor was it I who watched my child slip into the deep ~ Elizabeth Santos |
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© Copyright 2005 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I was not there. I was not witness to that tragic hour ~*~ No, we could only watch through telescopic eyes... yet anyone who has been owned by a child... knew the pain, just as well Thank you, Elizabeth...your pain penned this poem well... |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
This was such a Grotesque and heinous event in our lives...and no, I can't imagine going thru what those people endured, and are still to endure for generations to come...the effects were astronomical Written well Liz, thank you for sharing Big hugs to ya Lady |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
This was a tragedy beyond our most outrageous imaginings. You've ever-so-sympathetically spoken for those fortunate enough to have avoided loss in this maelstrom - and supportively for those who met with losses... This is wonderful, Liz... p.s. - I'll call later - with some minor trek adjustments... |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
So often survivors' guilt is proportionate to their proximity to the danger they avoided. This awesome disaster reached your awesome compassion in this write. POETS AGAINST THE WAR IS REDUNDANT |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Elizabeth, The sensitivity shown in your writing has touched me. This is surely one to ponder. miscellanea |
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Opoetry4me Member
since 2002-10-11
Posts 126Dixon, Ky USA |
Elizabeth this was such a well written piece. You have touched my heart indeed. ~~Dara Beth~~ |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Heartfelt! JL |
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Dr.Moose1 Member Elite
since 1999-09-05
Posts 3448Bewilderment , USA |
Liz, By necessity, we live in a world of detatchment. Your words bring us closer. Without dark, there can be no light. As you so eloquently stated, "I was not there", yet that does not prevent us from feeling the force of the catastrophy, only the personal effects, and, maybe not all of those. My hopes extend to all for their well being. An excellent piece. Doc |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Liz Your compassion is a tribute to the beauty of your soul! |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I hope you own a red hat, do you? You dear friend have earned one this was an absolutely heartwrenching write. |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
touching write, indeed |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth Your sorrow is my sorrow. |
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*Alli4000*
since 2004-03-21
Posts 3188The World of Poetry |
Amazing. ~Alli~ *AIM = Alli4000* Journal! |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
A truly sensitive outpouring of what is felt by so many. This tragedy has quickly been put on the back burner and poems like this remind us how fragile the human race really is. I'm glad to see this pop back up here. .....jo |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Extraordinary! |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Liz...One of if not the most realistic touching poems I have every read. Hopefully we won't ever have too experience such tragedy again...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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GG Member Elite
since 2002-12-03
Posts 3532Lost in thought |
Such compassion here... and anguish, I feel it too. Amazing. Always, Alyssa He was a man of sorrows |
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