Loss Is Loss

This senryu was my response to someone who asked, “Who do you stand with [on the Israel-Hamas conflict]?” War is a terrible thing. I’ll always hurt for innocent lives crushed because they couldn’t get away fast enough. Soldiers sort of know what to expect, when they go to war. But noncombatants caught in middle--women, men, children…--they didn’t sign up for all the dying. I stand with them. 💔

- for Poets and Storytellers United--Friday Writings #104: Small Kindnesses.

Words and Feels

not-quite Journaling, 61

 There is power in pink
blooms, in scars embraced,
in mind and flesh
refusing
to give up the fight
for life.

10/18/2023: If you haven’t had a mammogram, a breast exam performed by a doctor, or your breast self-examinations aren’t particularly regular, then today is the day to correct such a serious oversight. Wear pink while you’re at it, so that others might be reminded too. ( . ) /

P.S. Someone told me that “a good soul doesn’t have time to worry about [her] individual problems, when an entire people face war and worse.” At first, I wanted to kick the speaker in the teeth. Now that my mind is calmer, I’ll just say that the world and all its big problems might not mean much if we’re dead--breast cancer doesn’t wait until we’re ready for it.

 

10/31/2023: My favorite last minute Halloween costumes, from some years ago. My Piano Man was a Chick Magnet, but I can’t remember what I was… Bloody Hammered? 🤔 I’m sure it was completely obvious at the time.

 

11/3/2023: Because, every so often, we (all right, me) can use a little reminder.

 

11/7/2023: “Every day is Halloween, isn’t it? For some of us.” Well, of course, señor Burton, even for this lily. Doesn’t she look like she’s holding on to the best of October? Or, perhaps, I’m just projecting.

 

11/11/2023: In response to the one who asked, “What terrifies you?”

 

Be love: devastating and wonderful.

 

11/17/2023: I love fairy tales and all kinds of tales, where people who are being oppressed fight as hard as they can… and get out from under their tormenter’s boot. I love them even better, when they do some kicking back. What can I say? I might be a wee bit adversarial. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

- for Poets and Storytellers United--Friday Writings #103: Life Is a Fairy Tale.