Colossal Empathy

In truth.

Colossal Empathy 

Fruitless deaths

at the hands of terrorists

moved me to tears again.

Pop music, it seems,

was the Grande sticking plaster

as people rallied

in stunned confusion,

anger and fear,

to seek reassurance

that mankind is strong,

that humanity will rise

above such senseless carnage.

The sound of hope echoed

in popular music around

Manchester's Old Trafford cricket ground,

heartfelt, joyful, defiant.

The emotional breadth of pop,

often misread as shallow or glib,

now valuable for its open-heartedness

to so many people.

But the worm is unturned,

refuses to be fish bait

and continues to be

a cancer that will consume

our tolerance.

 

06/06/17

Author's Note

Reviews

[AYVID N]

At such times life on earth seems utterly meaningless and a zillion questions emerge. Pain and regret conveyed so fully...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Unfortunately, all over the world we have become almost immune to such atrocity. It only means something if it is close to home. It is though a deadly disease. Many thanks Divya for your indulgence.

[AYVID N]

I agree. There are bomb blasts killing dozens of innocents in Afghanistan and such mayhem in other places almost every day but sadly it becomes every days news to feel a twinge, flip the page and go on... Hope things change for the better some time soon...

You are so welcome John.

[Coyote Poetry]

Old world need more love and kindness.
"But the worm is unturned,
refuses to be fish bait
and continues to be
a cancer that will consume"
The above lines. True. I believe simple fix. Find the source of money. No money, no guns and no weapons unless being paid for. The sponsor of terror need to be boycotted if country and arrested if regular person. Thank you John for the hopeful song and the powerful poetry.
Coyote

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You are indeed a wise man of peace Coyote. Many thanks.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome John. I'm listening to the London concert. This is what we support to do. Stand fearless against terror.

[MCS]

Troubling times but good will always triumph over evil....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

One hopes so. Thanks.

[duff]

You have a sick flow with this one John. Smooth and silky but still has a razors edge to it. It was cool she came back and did another show not only for solidarity purposes but it was a big f**k you to ISIS and anyone else like them. Digging it for sure man. Nice work.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Duff. Too much bad stuff happening all around the world.

[duff]

Ya, lately I don't even want to watch the news. And you're very welcome!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and the cancer spreads...i am so glad that concert went on Sunday night----we will not let fear win, let them win...but these are anxious moments nowadays....and we are wondering when it will hit here in the states...many of us are feeling the imminent danger...it's a different world. Your poem captures that perfectly.

j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Jacob. I was chatting to a man from Kurdistan today and we don't have it bad at all. They suffer every day and have no end in sight. Many thanks.

[pia]

Wonderfully written. So many innocent lives lost at the hands of terrorism. I can feel the sorrow and the anger against the atrocities taking place.
The words you've used here are nicely placed !!!
People usually hate on pop music sometimes....but here you've used it in such a graceful way !!! That is was seen as a ray of hope as something bringing people together.
But still whatever we do......terrorism is still on the rise. And these inhuman monsters continue to preach extremism and radicalise others.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Exactly that. Thank you Pia!