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Day 2: Aug 2, 2008

only a name is left

clay kitchen walls
covered with black smoke
fire destroyed Cornoye
four years pass by
energy spent waiting
for humanity
to reach from our hearts
compassion rising above
consumed lives
buying spending thinking of self
reaching up and out
towards colors
rose turquoise forest and sky
set across the sand of hopeless
desolate lives
dependent on agencies
dependent on money
dependent on consumed lives
caring more than self

smoke that covers kitchen walls
how many more years
more drawings
suffering waiting tears
will it take
for humanity
to reach from our hearts
outside of comfort
beyond our room
into their lives
shifting attention energy

lessons from preschool
friendship
faith
doves stand for love, peace, and freedom
touch the pens of
weapons blood burning
a village destroyed
hope diminishing
only a name left

what does it take
for humanity
to stand together

4 replies on “only a name is left”

Your poem and the video really touch my heart. Why IS it taking SO long for the world to act?How can people/nations fail to be touched by these people’s beautiful faces and their disrupted lives? Thanks for the reminder that being an activist can involve spending less time and money shopping and committing more of our personal resources to helping. I am visiting friends in the Bay Area in Calif who are required by city law to cut back on water consumption because of the drought. They have cut back 60%, yet still have a garden, showers, drinking water, etc. I thought of that while I watched the women and young girls drawing water from the well. Namaste.

Dear Judy,
Ask myself the same questions almost everyday. How do we shift our energy and attention away from what is right in front of us to the whole world? How do we help people understand that we have a moral responsibility for everyone, not just our neighbors and own family. 60% is great, and I am sure more than most, if we all could cut back at least 50% permanently, their might be enough to shift the way we farm in our country. There is virtually no water here at all. For refugees or aid workers for that matter. But even then, the refugees always graciously offer us water. We try to explain that they should save it for themselves and their children, but any offering is hard to refuse. They have so little and are willing to offer so much.
peace, ktj

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