everybody prays
that death will be quick
but not like this
death
should be dignified
corpses should not
hang from trees
as unknown politicians
squabble over
the length of a piece of silence
as news editors
work out the equation which determines
the value of a British life
compared to an Asian one
as people suggest
that what matters is which figurehead
tells then to mourn
and god laughs
as believers rush to justify
the inexplicable
everybody prays
that death will be quick
but not like this
death
should be dignified
rest in peace
Author notes
“I have never seen such utter destruction.
Mile after mile.
You wonder, where are the people?”
Written January 7th, 2005
What did you think
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Awesome!
Awesome write as usual! Wow, all your poetry has depth to it. You are very talented with getting across the meaning in your work
Very nicely done! The imagery was amazing
Thanks for sharing and stopping by my page!
James -
hehe, I got to applaud this twice still just as great!
tf -
great stuff del! I loved this. One of my personal favourite poems by you! awesome awesome stuff!
tf -
Superb. Near-impossible to write about without sounding glib, and I think you have this totally right.
I agree totally, except that my agnostic tendencies make it hard for me to accept a God who laughs right now, and He is somewhere in that inexplicable, if He is at all. But then I can't cope with atheism either. There is a love and empathy in this aftermath which transcends even my cynicism, and that also is one big wave. Pakistan governments sending aid to India? That thing in the Eye this week, where a homeless guy is giving to Oxfam out of his box.
The attack on the media is perfect: Blair and his snivelling, as false when he doesn't smile as when he does.
Hard to get the tone right without trivialising the loss, the helplessness of everything. Did you see the news tonight? There was a hotel owner in Trincomalee, talking with a wistful smile about the tsunami that wrecked his hotel, much as we would talk about the weather. Dylan had a brilliant lyric about dignity, and our attempt to find it. It shines there, right now, sometimes stangely, almost so much it could make me believe, at least in something that lives in humanity in spite of everything. -
I love it. it really talks to me from this one it seems that you are very good and love to right. Keep up the good work!
And this was great
~*Shelly*~ -
When life itself is dignified death will be so as well
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this was pure emotion, i agree with everything that you wrote here...the way politicians were arguing about a 3 or 4 minutes silence...it doesnt help anyone whos dead; i thought it very deep, and thoughtful, well done. i loved reading it x x x
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Just as Rous has said heart reandering. . Good read and write
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Good
This was heart rending. The imagery is good and the form pleasing. Punctuation may help with understanding. Thank you for sharing -
EXACTLY! Many times I though of the same thing, that many's dignity were just played by the powerful, twirled around their fingers as they unmorally pursued fame, and stepping on others on their way. An easy but emotional read, thanks for sharing.
Hugs
Jenny -
BRAVO!
oh my god... this poem made me tear up. How polititions argue about silences and british lives over asian ones made me nod and agree out loud. This was a wonderful peice. Thank you so much for sharing this in this time of mourning. BRAVO! -
i like this ...a whole lot....the way you used so little words..but yet still had a crystal clear meaning.....LLLOOOVVEEE IT....great job....*hugs*
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