The Witness

Sometimes before things happen, I see and feel them coming. This was written in 2006, after the dreams described in the poem. I had hoped that the vision no longer rang true.

I had a dream before it had begun-
The war, that is.
I saw the bombs falling
And bodies flying through the air.
I stood beside the souls of those massacred
And thought,
"Comfort, love, safe, come"
Walking with them to the edge
Where they would meet another guide.

Many were confused.
They wandered, looking at a mass grave
That had yet to be covered.
Because they could not remember where they were,
I did not know either.
The place was brown like dust
Dry grass all around
Flat and isolated from any mountains or trees.

A couple of them argued, enraged,
Turned to me demanding answers
I could not give.
I was unafraid-
It was only their fear I saw.
I took their hands like children
And explained what I had seen,
Guessing at why I was here.
They calmed like little boys after a grown-up fight
Too big for their gentle souls.
And when they walked on to where I could not follow,
I grieved long and hard
Knowing so many more strangers as these
Walked on in different places these days.

A week or so later the bombs really began to fall.
Even though in some small way
Knowing their anguish helped,
I swam in the same helplessness
As everyone I met.

I am a witness
That no act on earth goes unseen,
No person passes without one
Who grieves for the loss.
Sometimes we see into each others' worlds
Across continents and seas;
Sometimes it is in our own city
At night while others sleep.

I am a witness
And I am watching.

Spirit gives me eyes to see past
What governments keep hidden.
Truth gives me courage
Not to ignore another's need.
Love gives me the power to survive
What I must see.

I am a witness
And I am here
Watching.

After the war had begun
I had another dream.
A fiery bomb blast
Landing in a small city.
The bomb fell in slow motion
And when it hit,
It flashed red and gold,
Sending up a cloud of smoke
That darkened and wiped out the sky.
I saw the shockwave move outward from the center
Traveling more north than south,
More east than west,
As if directed to be asymmetrical.
There was no time to run,
The wave annihilating everything in its path.

I told no one of this dream
But I could identify the city if I saw it from the air
And the two I saw up close before they died.
A man and his son standing side by side
Facing the blast.
My heart told me their last thoughts were a cry,
"Allah!"
And then they were gone.
Two strangers, a man and his son,
Snuffed out a moment before I knew their names.

If others could see what I see,
Would there finally be mercy?

I am a witness
And I am still here
Watching.

Author's Note

While not overly graphic, this could be triggering to tender hearts. The dreams did happen just that way.

Reviews

[Inject Positivity]

Thought provoking, this is one of the most intense and thought provoking write I have read for a long time on this concept... Sometimes I feel like what kind world it was when the early humans appeared on earth, and what was the real need for them to divide God... I feel like we have divided God into many parts and poured him into small world of our religion... The almighty creator is mourning watching this, how his fellow children making bombs to destroy their fellow brothers life... The use of the Holy word God has become a way to give reason for destruction... The ending really hit me, mankind is facing the cruelty of his own creation that religion...

Your writings are full of uniqueness and thoughts which as a reader is a learning experience for me... Great to have you here...

Sincerely
Dhiman

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you Dhiman, it is so good to be here, life-affirming when I find others who understand what we are grappling with in our humanity. I agree- it does seem like we've torn God into little pieces to suit our own points of view. I take heart with books that find the core truths in religions (like "living Buddha, Living Christ) hoping to bring together our images of God enough that we not destroy each other over our differences. Much destruction comes from a lack of humility, the arrogance that one knows better than another, and the greed of accumulating more than we need to the detriment of other sentient beings. Thank you for diving with me into these dreams and reflecting on the.

[Coyote Poetry]

Dream or not. Realistic view of life in the poem and thoughts. Real world is in total chaos and the value of life is less. Powerful description took reader to place of terror and war. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Marianne Rose]

Yes- the value of life is less- what a true and straightforward way to say it. Thank you for traveling with me to that place, and coming back to such a real and true reflection. Your reviews always take it a step further. Thank you.

[Coyote Poetry]

I saw war. I saw dead cities and I put men and woman into body bags. I try to forget, but I can't. Many of my poetry show the terror of war. No-one wins in war and you are welcome.

[Marianne Rose]

Then you are are witness too, though you didn't want to be. Seeing death and destruction up close changes us; we need the balance of life-affirming experiences too. That's one reason I left being a hospital chaplain after 10 years- it was time to balance my sight with beauty and gentleness. I'm sorry that you had to see it all up close in ways that brand your mind with images. But we are witnesses, and many don't see, so maybe they can see through our eyes and something, someday will change, if enough of us continue to speak out.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. If we don't stand-up for peace. The men of war and profit shall win.

[Lydia Shutter]

"No person passes without one
Who grieves for the loss."

How true this is. Everyone has someone who will miss them....it is what makes us human. I, too, have dreams of things before they happen and it is very scary. If I have a dream of a friend, I will call to warn them. Often they laugh it off....till what I have dreamed happens. Your words are graphic and intense. We are all witnesses. We see it and we remember....and yet we are not powerful enough to stop it. Very well written. Lydi**

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you Lydi! Yes- our culture at large still has a hard time accepting that some us see things we aren't imagining- probably more of us would access these gifts if it were more acceptable, as it is with a lot of indigenous cultures. I'm glad you say we are all witnesses- too often I have felt isolated in this - feeling there are a lot of people sleepwalking through life. Thank you so much for your reflections and review!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we wish to have dreams of peace, but this is the reality...war, war and more war...

when will the violence cease?

i am reminded of the old dylan song "with god on our side"

and how it is supposed to be okay to maim and kill in wars if we are on the right side...but what is the right side?
and today all of the violence and killing in his name, or some name given to him?

i doubt this is what he or any other god would want.

a very moving peace here...not graphic, but not needed to be---the message comes through loud and clear.

j.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you Jacob, it is so wonderful to connect with you through these writings, and feel the strength that comes from finding others with hearts of peace. Your reviews are very kind, positive and thought-provoking- like a poem can be the opening of a dialogue that goes further and deeper than it can reach by itself.