My City is aching.
It’s taking one breath
at a time, holding love
at center and knowing
……………..it’s enough.
My City is reeling,
kneeling. Begging for healing
and a glimpse of
something that just
might be Light.
………………………..We fight.
Name us: Grace,
hummed hope.
This is for today’s Quadrille over at dVerse.
This is the first thing I have written in more than a week. Last Sunday night, October 1st, something unimaginable happened here in Las Vegas. My kids’ school, our church and our little Henderson community have been significantly impacted. But in the past 8 days, I have watched my city come together in miraculous ways. Blood bank lines wrapped around the corner. Our churches reaching out to victims and their families, first responders and hospitals and their families, and anyone affected by that terrible night. A memorial park built in just four days. People are visiting the Strip to look at crosses. We have mourned and we have prayed. We are still mourning, and still praying. But there is always, always hope.
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Oh De, my heart breaks for you and your city. Praying for healing.
Thank you so much, J.lynn. ❤
Wow, De. This is a powerful poem/post.
My heart goes out to you and yours and beyond.
Thanks, Girl.
So much in this is true… hope is in the coming together. Alone it would never work. Love how you have lend your voice to such disaster. I remember how it happened in Stockholm after the terrorist attack…
Yes, I remember that, too. So much heartbreak.
Holding you in my heart. Abiding with you my friend. ❤
Thank you, Kir. I can think of no safer place to be. ❤
❤️
❤
De, holding you and the community in prayers and love~ I hope for the healing and forgiveness of all those affected. Those white crosses are moving to see ~ Hugs ~
Thank you, Grace. I haven’t been down there to see them yet, but since the photo above they have acquired lots of messages of love and hope, as well as the names of the 58 people who have (so far) lost their lives. Praying that number stands, as it is already way too many.
I always enjoy hearing your voice in the Q, De, with your rap-like, rapid words (that was a compliment! :o) My prayers are with you and everyone affected by this tragedy. Thanks for the prompt; I wish you strength, peace, and healing and glad to have you writing again.
Thank you so much, Crystal. I love that for you, poems are ALWAYS read aloud, as they are meant to be.
This poignant and evokes sad memories. Las Vegas will survive.
Thank you, Vivian. We will.
🙏
My home town Manchester went through a similar experience and we shone in our time of adversity.It is a strange truth that surfaces when tragedy strikes. We really are all here for each other. If only it could play out that way without the heavy price.
I could not agree more, Paul.
Too many of us have been close to these horrendous events–sometimes I feel we are too close to the End Times–but of course then I recall the stories my parents told about WWII, and grandparents about WWI, and my own recall of the Viet Nam War–and I begin to remember how resilient the human spirit really is.
Resilient, indeed. Thanks, Glenn.
Love is enough. Let it out! Don’t wait for tragedy. Risk heartbreak. Love fully, love now.
YES. Thank you, Eric.
My thoughts are with you, your family and the citizens of Las Vegas, De.
Your poem is heartbreaking
Thanks, Kim. The world has poured out so much love this past week. We’re thankful.
I enjoyed the sound in your poem. It enhanced its impact. I liked the phrase “hummed hope”.
Thanks, Frank. “Hope” wanted a word to buddy up with. That one seemed to work okay.
Tragedy brings out the best in people, brings communities together, for a while at least. Thinking of you.
Appreciate how the ‘fight’ stands apart, visually. These are the things that shape, change & define us as writers.
Thank you, Jilly. We do fight, indeed. Slowly, surely.
Heartbreaking tragedy.
Yes, Misky. And the stories continue to pour in, both of heartbreak and triumph over it. We still have many people on critical lists. PRAYING the death toll does not rise above 58, but some say it already has, and minors’ names just haven’t been shared. So hard to get to the center of the truth yet, with all the mystery and horror still surrounding it all.
(hugs)
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They say that after a disaster like this you should look for the people doing good. This feels like a poem for them.
YES. Thank you, Sarah.
One wonders why it takes a tragedy to bring out the best in people. The people of Las Vegas have certainly risen to the occasion in miraculous ways. We feel your pain, my poet friend.
Thanks, Beverly. I really do wish we could love each other like this ALL the time. It’s a shame. But I’m thankful for the love and hope that have been shared this past week.
Up in Canada we watched the news of this event with horror and grief. Our hearts indeed go out to all who have been affected by this horrifying tragedy….
Thank you, Melody.
Wept with you. Just as you wept with us… over a year ago. But hope does not waver; faith is untouched.
So true, Charley. Thank you.
This is exquisite.
“It’s taking one breath
at a time, holding love
at center and knowing
……………..it’s enough.
Name us: Grace,
hummed hope.”
Your words breathe grace, light, and hope into the darkness. I will hold onto hope with you.
Thank you, Barry. I sat frozen, for a week, with no words. I am thankful these finally spilled, and ever more thankful that they may have brought you even a little bit of hope to hold onto.
I can relate to how you felt. I often find myself overwhelmed by how callous and violently cruel humans can be. Vegas specifically, but just overall we can be so horrid to one another. I’m having a hard time coping this year. Hope it gets better.
This made me weep, feeling the deep sadness and loss of lives. May, your city stand strong knowing others stand with you in this darkest of times. Hope is always there, it never leaves it strengthens the human spirit.
Such pathos, De Jackson! My heart breaks for you and all Las Vegans! Stay Vegas Strong!
it is mind-numbing to be in the middle of all that. I’m glad you found hope! and they build a memorial in 4 days. That’s quite an accomplishment!
Those crosses put a lump in my throat every time i see them, but they make me hopeful that there is good in people.
Powerful, De. I hope you include this poem, and your thoughts about this hard time, in your feature.
I hope you found some release/relief in writing again, De.
Sending you love and hugs for you and your city.
May there always be hope that shines upon the world through dark times.
This is indeed a tragic event. Community support, prayers and hope can certainly bring back life in the city. Your poem is full of hope just like your heart.
We have no choice but to hope, when hope deserts us.
Tears and hugs, De…stay strong in Him. God bless all of you with renewed hope!
Sad and powerful
Yet hope stays alive
namaste
JzB
Absolutely a wonderful post. So very personal with the words “My City,” as we know it is for you…but also by capitalizing City there is a humanity within the city itself that is called forth. She aches, she reels, she holds her breath, she is resilient in the face of something that no one should have to face. So well written….heartfelt.
Praise God, there is always hope. I love your perspective on this terrible tragedy, your focus on the helpers that came along in the aftermath to keep hope alive.
Oh my–just stunning! Sending you hugs and hope.
I can’t imagine what you all are going through. Keep holding love at center!
loved the last line so much….healing and prayers…!
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt thoughts and poem, De. Sending love and prayer from across the Pacific.
so heartbreaking De, and your poem full of both grace and anguish, is beautiful
Oh De! I just read this, and want you to know I am thinking of you, and hoping along with you.
Thank you all so much for your kind words. We are kneeling, healing.