I sit
as is my habit
on the balcony
at night
and wonder
about the people
in the homes
across the way
what do they think about
hearing the cat cry
in the courtyard
its voice so much
like a child’s
do they think
of the children
of the women
crying in the rubble
not so very far away
in Gaza
and feel as helpless
as I feel
who can’t even help
a cat crying
in the night
I’ve been reluctant to write on that topic. But I will.. Just do not judge me.
You should write what you think, not be concerned with what others may feel about it.
I did just post a little while ago
Okay, John. But roughly 30,000 Israelis have been killed since Oct. 7th compared to over 300,000 Palestinians. And it continues. War has always caused massive deaths to civilians for thousands of years of human existence. Women & children always suffered enslavement &/or death since armies marched from one territory to another. That sorrowful fact does not condone it being repeated over and over again in the present. Injustice cannot keep resulting in more injustice. When does it stop? Where is the line drawn? In this issue as well as in many others throughout history race & religion have been at the root of these conflicts. When does the world community say enough is enough. Forget who is right, who is wrong because everyone is right, everyone is wrong. Let’s just learn to sit down and understand each other and thus armed with that mutual understanding compromise & peaceful co-existence can be reached. And hopefully the cries of women & children can end.
Thank you. “Where is the line drawn?” sums up a lot. (But did you put an extra 0 on the end of both your numbers?
No, John, I didn’t. Check the dead tallies yourself.
I’m still getting a death tally of 30,000 from United Nations source.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1147082
But that is still totally disastrous.
My mistake. Over 30,000 Palestinians to more than 1200 in Israel. Though the numbers are lower, the percentage is much worse.
However the number go and however accurate one small child is one too many.
I can’t even begin to tell you how what is happening in Gaza has changed my view of the world and made me realise that no matter how sophisticated we become with our technology and access to education – Gaza shows that we really haven’t learned a thing. And even deeper still, it exposes a real crisis in our humanity. Seeing all the news and horrific images and feeling so helpless threw me into a new kind of darkness. But it is not true that we can’t help a cat in the darkness. Whilst living in Fener. my mother, hearing a kitten crying in the night, went out determined to find her . She found her in a hole in the side of gutter and everyday she would go to her and bring her food until she trusted my mother enough to come out. Long story short, she turned out to be a he and we, after he became comfortable with us, took him to a vet and managed to find him a nice home – kid you not – in Moda. 🙂 Change begins with the smallest acts of kindness. This is what I’m focusing on now to navigate the darkness.
Kindness can change many things. So h appy it changed that cat’s life.
Very poignant and beautifully written. Warm hugs from the Netherlands.
Thanks, Martina. Hope all is well.
The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming.
Unfortunately it permeates the air over and around us.