Dear Treasa. We have all seen the photos, the videos…. They are unspeakable - and yet we need to speak. So yes, that is why I used simple fields of colour instead.
Writing that poem was a labour, yet all I had to do was write. I do not know how people are living through this - which indeed is why it is being done to them.
Well done, David, for writing this. This is the reality we have all been living with for the past few years and haven't really spoken about. Let us speak now and let our voices be heard. All of the atrocities and horrors that are happening in Gaza will only end when there is a just, two- state solution. Wiping out a whole race of people won't solve anything, it will only create bad Karma out of which more blood will flow and more war crimes will be committed sometime in the future.
In Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf, he has a line that says, "The deadly spear never sleeps for long once a Prince lies dead in the dust." This is a reflection on war-crimes and the whole idea that they must be paid for in blood someday. But that "eye for an eye" cycle is wrong, misguided, and can be broken. All people can choose to believe in a god of love, not vengeance. I'll restack your poem in a short while, my friend.
David, you know I'm glad you wrote this poem! I remember you said how hard it was for you to write about it. I wrote a poem in Feb 24, well over a year ago (who knew then it would go on for so long) in which I also used colour to talk about this war - will DM it to you if you'd like to read it. We're all still searching for words and metaphors and there's no end in sight. :(
Yes. I recall our conversation about this. I have written letters to politicians here, several times over the past year, but writing something from my heart - much harder.
Please do send me a DM.
The colours I have used.... two reasons:
first - we have all seen the photos. We don't need to see them again, even though we will, over and over till this ends....
Second - I have used the colours of the Palestinian flag for their dead, and of the Israeli flag for theirs. The response by the Government of Israel is monstrous and "disproportionate" beyond comprehension, but the dead and injured of 7 October are innocent too. There are no winners here, other than the arms dealers and the Politicians who use this to cling to blood drenched power.
As it does for so many of us, my friend. I'm just profoundly relieved that military madness has been replaced with at least a semblance of sanity in your part of the world.... Small consolation that is to the family members and friends of those already killed or injured.
Using the blocks of colour like this, rather than photographs we’ve seen enough of and which haven’t moved the right people to end this, says everything. I’ll never understand how a handful of psychopaths make decisions that affect millions of people in this world.
Hi Susan. I have had great joy with Substack, because I can match my words with photographs I have taken, or with Meg's art. It's a way of working that has brought new avenues of creativity for me.
So.... when I was struggling to find words for all this atrocity, the colour blocks - substituting for images I wish I could unsee - helped me to write.
But nothing is appropriate, for something so abominable.
Taking each other's hands, my friend, in solidarity, standing up to brutality, making our voices heard. I find it symbolically significant that you decided to read this one for us, Dave. This is you, leaving a mark.
Yes. This is the 72nd written Post I have published, but it is the first for which I have recorded my voice. A Poet should always believe what they write, and write what they believe, but until now I have been happy to let my words speak for themselves. This time, I felt the need to speak my words aloud, and not hide behind them.
Thankyou Paul. Apologies for the late reply. I had to sleep. All kinds of strange travels in my dreams.... Now awake into the new day and replying to many good people. As Meg reminds me - most people are good, though it is hard to believe sometimes.
Thank you, Dave, but no apologies required. Like Meg, I believe most people are good at heart but there are some who simply strike me as heartless. Wishing you and Meg all the best.
Hi Alan. Thankyou. The murder, rape and abductions of 7 October were a horror. Those victims should not be forgotten, any more than the vast number of victims of the insanely violent response instigated and sustained by the current government of Israel.
It is always the innocent who suffer the most, and the most often. October 7th was a massive and sickening crime. The ongoing massacres in Gaza - and indeed elsewhere - are also a sickening crime, sustained and repeated day after day and month after month - largely for political reasons - with no end in sight.
I mourn all the dead, all the injured, all those devastated by grief - no matter their race or religion.
Thank you for this. Restacked. It is surreal to be alive in a time where this brutality is live-streamed. Where we see the discrepancy between what the mainstream media shows us, and the civilian experience. I’m so glad every time I come across an artist, writer, human with a heart speaking out against this in the ways they’re able. I appreciate your powerful words.
Hi friend Jodi. It is unspeakable, and therefore all the more important for us to speak - regardless. I have written to politicians, and will keep doing so, and donated to aid groups - knowing that their own workers are targets. I wanted to speak up as a Poet, also.
Hi dear Caroline. Thankyou. No words are adequate. I have written to politicians several times in logical form, but like you I have struggled to write as a Poet. How to write "creatively" about utter destruction, horror and inhumanity?....
Thankyou, my friend. I find it hard to read my poetry aloud these days - at least, the poetry that is important to me. It opens a door to the flood, and that's why I have not done so on Substack until now.
However this subject is so important, I had to put own voice to it. The wind - which was literally howling outside - helped me get through.
Dear Treasa. We have all seen the photos, the videos…. They are unspeakable - and yet we need to speak. So yes, that is why I used simple fields of colour instead.
Writing that poem was a labour, yet all I had to do was write. I do not know how people are living through this - which indeed is why it is being done to them.
D
Well done, David, for writing this. This is the reality we have all been living with for the past few years and haven't really spoken about. Let us speak now and let our voices be heard. All of the atrocities and horrors that are happening in Gaza will only end when there is a just, two- state solution. Wiping out a whole race of people won't solve anything, it will only create bad Karma out of which more blood will flow and more war crimes will be committed sometime in the future.
Thankyou Martin. Writing Poetry always brings me joy - even if it is the bitter sweet joy of expressing grief.
This piece is the exception. It feels like a great weight. Something I just had to say. Something I took far too long to say.
Yes, a just two State solution is the only way out of this. Vengeance just breeds more vengeance, as we have seen over and over and over again.
Best Wishes - Dave
In Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf, he has a line that says, "The deadly spear never sleeps for long once a Prince lies dead in the dust." This is a reflection on war-crimes and the whole idea that they must be paid for in blood someday. But that "eye for an eye" cycle is wrong, misguided, and can be broken. All people can choose to believe in a god of love, not vengeance. I'll restack your poem in a short while, my friend.
David, you know I'm glad you wrote this poem! I remember you said how hard it was for you to write about it. I wrote a poem in Feb 24, well over a year ago (who knew then it would go on for so long) in which I also used colour to talk about this war - will DM it to you if you'd like to read it. We're all still searching for words and metaphors and there's no end in sight. :(
Hi Rajani
Yes. I recall our conversation about this. I have written letters to politicians here, several times over the past year, but writing something from my heart - much harder.
Please do send me a DM.
The colours I have used.... two reasons:
first - we have all seen the photos. We don't need to see them again, even though we will, over and over till this ends....
Second - I have used the colours of the Palestinian flag for their dead, and of the Israeli flag for theirs. The response by the Government of Israel is monstrous and "disproportionate" beyond comprehension, but the dead and injured of 7 October are innocent too. There are no winners here, other than the arms dealers and the Politicians who use this to cling to blood drenched power.
I do not have the heart to call this beautiful even though it is, but the pain and the tragedy overwhelm me.
As it does for so many of us, my friend. I'm just profoundly relieved that military madness has been replaced with at least a semblance of sanity in your part of the world.... Small consolation that is to the family members and friends of those already killed or injured.
Using the blocks of colour like this, rather than photographs we’ve seen enough of and which haven’t moved the right people to end this, says everything. I’ll never understand how a handful of psychopaths make decisions that affect millions of people in this world.
Hi Susan. I have had great joy with Substack, because I can match my words with photographs I have taken, or with Meg's art. It's a way of working that has brought new avenues of creativity for me.
So.... when I was struggling to find words for all this atrocity, the colour blocks - substituting for images I wish I could unsee - helped me to write.
But nothing is appropriate, for something so abominable.
I feel the weight of the inadequacy of words, only feel deep dark anger. So thanks for yours, Dave.
So powerful David.
Thankyou, Síodhna my friend. Your own wonderful land rose above violence, after long misery - a lesson to the world.
Best Wishes - Dave
Taking each other's hands, my friend, in solidarity, standing up to brutality, making our voices heard. I find it symbolically significant that you decided to read this one for us, Dave. This is you, leaving a mark.
Thankyou dear Mahdi.
Yes. This is the 72nd written Post I have published, but it is the first for which I have recorded my voice. A Poet should always believe what they write, and write what they believe, but until now I have been happy to let my words speak for themselves. This time, I felt the need to speak my words aloud, and not hide behind them.
Very Best Wishes - Dave
This is so powerful. The way you have used the colours of the flag is amazing. Thank you for speaking up.
Thankyou dear Alex. Only words, but in the end words must win over weapons, or humanity itself loses.
Best Wishes - Dave
Dave! The aching soil of Gaza fertilized by its own people. 👏 👏 brilliant and heartbreaking. Thank you for your voice.
Thankyou, Alex. No words are adequate, but silence is worse.
D
Such a powerful piece, David. I feel it with your words. I hear it in your voice. Thank You. 🙏
Thankyou Paul. Apologies for the late reply. I had to sleep. All kinds of strange travels in my dreams.... Now awake into the new day and replying to many good people. As Meg reminds me - most people are good, though it is hard to believe sometimes.
Best Wishes to you - Dave
Thank you, Dave, but no apologies required. Like Meg, I believe most people are good at heart but there are some who simply strike me as heartless. Wishing you and Meg all the best.
I appreciate that you included the victims of October 7. That’s rare in much of the current discourse.
Hi Alan. Thankyou. The murder, rape and abductions of 7 October were a horror. Those victims should not be forgotten, any more than the vast number of victims of the insanely violent response instigated and sustained by the current government of Israel.
It is always the innocent who suffer the most, and the most often. October 7th was a massive and sickening crime. The ongoing massacres in Gaza - and indeed elsewhere - are also a sickening crime, sustained and repeated day after day and month after month - largely for political reasons - with no end in sight.
I mourn all the dead, all the injured, all those devastated by grief - no matter their race or religion.
It has to stop.
Best Wishes - Dave
Thank you for this. Restacked. It is surreal to be alive in a time where this brutality is live-streamed. Where we see the discrepancy between what the mainstream media shows us, and the civilian experience. I’m so glad every time I come across an artist, writer, human with a heart speaking out against this in the ways they’re able. I appreciate your powerful words.
Hi friend Jodi. It is unspeakable, and therefore all the more important for us to speak - regardless. I have written to politicians, and will keep doing so, and donated to aid groups - knowing that their own workers are targets. I wanted to speak up as a Poet, also.
Best Wishes to from Australia - Dave
So powerful. Thank you for speaking up in this way
Your are welcome June. I believe that most people are horrified by this, and we need to speak out.
Best Wishes - Dave
Powerful. Thank you for writing on this difficult subject, David. I struggle to find words, but I try. PEACE
Hi dear Caroline. Thankyou. No words are adequate. I have written to politicians several times in logical form, but like you I have struggled to write as a Poet. How to write "creatively" about utter destruction, horror and inhumanity?....
In the end, I just had to try.
Best Wishes - Dave
Dave, This is devastating. Thank you for reading it for us. The heart breaks, and just keeps breaking.
Thankyou, my friend. I find it hard to read my poetry aloud these days - at least, the poetry that is important to me. It opens a door to the flood, and that's why I have not done so on Substack until now.
However this subject is so important, I had to put own voice to it. The wind - which was literally howling outside - helped me get through.
Dave