Remembrance

This came to me on the wings of gold finches on an early morning walk after a night of counseling a freind who was distraught over one of the many atrocities men visit upon one another...

Author's Note

Remember the darkness
wives standing next to shades
husbands standing by emptiness
mothers, fathers staring into vacant cradles
children snatched from loving arms
plunged into worlds of pain
lost ones wandering in confusion…
companions of terror

Remember the light
the embrace of love—of loved ones
smiles of mothers—laughter of children
rays of the sun
breaking through cold gray dawn

Remember little sun brothers
and their little brown cousins
Gold Finches, Weaver Finches
flashes of bright feathers
tiny dancing shadows
making trees ring with their golden song

Remember those things
that break the darkness
sweep sorrow aside
and surround weary hearts
with hope…

Remember

Reviews

[Russell Munroe]

This is a great piece Maggie. Before I had read all the way through I was caught by the following lines:

"lost ones wandering in confusion…
companions of terror"

These lines triggered a memory ( I remembered ;) ) of an expereience I shared with a friend in Olympia, who...like me is rather keenly aware and sensitive. I was visiting him at the trailer he rented in a "shanty town" near The Evergreen State College. We were sharing council and playing our drums together. Something caught our attention and we both stopped playing so that we could focus on what it was. We went outside and were drawn to movement in the canopy of a tree nearby. We discussed our perceptions and agreed that this was a spirit trying to scare us. Neither of us were inclined to succumb to fear and we decided to confront the presence. Then we each had individual experiences that were quite similar. I "conversed" with this spirit and learned that she had died a violent death, at the hand of her spouse, in her late twenties. I hugged her and told her that she could choose to remain trapped in her pain or she could move on from this plane. She seemed reluctant to give up her attachment to the replay of her terror.

This was a powerful and intense experience to share with my friend and this non-corporeal sister.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

I really like this one, you have portrayed the natural world with colourful abundance

[unsavable_soul]

I like this,
I must say this is interesting. It is different from most of your stuff I have read. I love the imagery you used and the way you lay it out. I must say I am not feeling this one as much as others you have wrote, something about is feels a little forced to me. I give honesty through my eyes and only an opinion of an addled mind.
I like this.
Sincerely
Christopher

[Mother Maggie]

I always value your insight and I don't find your mind addled at all.this piece was different--it was answering the call of a freind in need. She had just seen "Slum Dog Millionaire" and was very upset about the depiction of the maiming of the boys in the movie. My heart was feeling her cry and when I saw the goldfinches in the trees along my path, I saw the answer in the light juxtaposed against the darkness. I never refined it or changed it. It was something greater than me speaking through me,

[unsavable_soul]

Well it is very kind of you to write this for a friend.
I haven't personally seen slum dog yet. I usually am a couple or more years behind what is going on in the culture around. My friend says it has to do with missing social cues. You are ever a one of my favorites when it comes to reading their work.
Love and Art Maggie,
Sincerely
Christopher

[Mother Maggie]

It was an amazing movie--having seen it, I wouldn't watch it again because it shows the pain and the exploitation of the strong upon the weak that I am already very much aware of...

[unsavable_soul]

I think I might watch it soon, sounds like a one timer. See you soon.
Slainte Mhaith
Chris