A very touching poem. I spent too many of my young adult years fighting for something I didn't know about. I just followed orders until I went to Afghanistan in 2002. Living with these wonderful people and learning about their peaceful culture and the poverty they endure without much complaint was an eye opener and changed me dramatically. I returned home and reevaluated my values on life and I have been working on that ever since. I am a very different person than the soldier who went off to fight another war in a foreign country again (this was my eighth and last before I retired). I grew up on the old stories of our family and the myths of Cu Chulainn, Fionn mac Cumhaill and the fae. I also got into trouble with the American authorities for supporting the Sinn Féin back in the early 1980's when they were considered part of a terrorist organization. Now I openly support them with donations and support whenever I can. I have seen apartheid and what it does to people. I have been to Israel and left with a serious bad taste for the arrogant Zionists. Now, I fight for peace and equality as I can until the Americans come for me for supporting terrorists. Given the new bill working its way to the senate, and the fever over anti-Semitism, it may not be too long.
As to your poem, there is a bittersweetness to it. But an honesty. While my family lives is comfort and safety here in Toronto, the people of Gaza have warplanes, and weapons of murder directed at them. How does anyone make sense of it?
How does one respond?
Well, you did, and the only response is one of love and community.
“Palestinian poet Marwan Makhoul wrote the now famous words “In order for me to write poetry that isn't political, I must listen to the birds and in order to hear the birds the warplanes must be silent.”
Yes. This is one good reason I have been against violence & war ever since I could remember. Not only does war kill humans, it kills our non-human companions, including birds. This is all too much. We humans need to stop this madness.
A very touching poem. I spent too many of my young adult years fighting for something I didn't know about. I just followed orders until I went to Afghanistan in 2002. Living with these wonderful people and learning about their peaceful culture and the poverty they endure without much complaint was an eye opener and changed me dramatically. I returned home and reevaluated my values on life and I have been working on that ever since. I am a very different person than the soldier who went off to fight another war in a foreign country again (this was my eighth and last before I retired). I grew up on the old stories of our family and the myths of Cu Chulainn, Fionn mac Cumhaill and the fae. I also got into trouble with the American authorities for supporting the Sinn Féin back in the early 1980's when they were considered part of a terrorist organization. Now I openly support them with donations and support whenever I can. I have seen apartheid and what it does to people. I have been to Israel and left with a serious bad taste for the arrogant Zionists. Now, I fight for peace and equality as I can until the Americans come for me for supporting terrorists. Given the new bill working its way to the senate, and the fever over anti-Semitism, it may not be too long.
As to your poem, there is a bittersweetness to it. But an honesty. While my family lives is comfort and safety here in Toronto, the people of Gaza have warplanes, and weapons of murder directed at them. How does anyone make sense of it?
How does one respond?
Well, you did, and the only response is one of love and community.
Beautiful in every way. And not a word of the intro was spilled. Thank you for your voice and your clarity.
“Palestinian poet Marwan Makhoul wrote the now famous words “In order for me to write poetry that isn't political, I must listen to the birds and in order to hear the birds the warplanes must be silent.”
Yes. This is one good reason I have been against violence & war ever since I could remember. Not only does war kill humans, it kills our non-human companions, including birds. This is all too much. We humans need to stop this madness.