Saydnaya

It is not a vision of cavalry,
mounting conspicuous horses.
Making flesh settle
under saddles--

tender subjects
of violence. It is not
dictionary austerity:

pointing to a tiny room
of clocks blowing
back in clatter at the hour

of no return. It is more
trim-man in Armani silk
hoisting his manicure

into the sun, dissembling.
Things that shine
cannot be

shown to harm. He would
have you believe there is no room
for silence. But there is
always room

inside shock. Inside mornings
populated by 13,000
dangling pairs of legs,

belling like skinned beef
from prison girding. There,
where perhaps the room

grows flooded with swords
of light & light pierces
the gaping mouths

of windows-- cuts
the horse-hoof thump of boots
to silence

Author's Note

There is a lot of information available about Sadynaya (also called Sednaya Prison), but this is the article that I read that made me write the poem:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/07/up-to-13000-secretly-hanged-in-syrian-jail-says-amnesty

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

reading the poem the first time, i had a skin-crawling feeling. after looking at your notes and reading again, there was a growing feeling of moral indignation. the inhumanity in the world is both shocking and nauseating. and one can only helplessly ask 'how did it come to this?' as the situation in syria now is flaring up again, i can only pray for minimum harm and that the outcome will be some sort of improvement. i take no sides in this conflict, as i feel the rebels are as heinous as the oppressors, but i do wish that we all do not lose common decency in the process.
as a japanese person, i am well aware that war brings out the worst in us. if only such a thing can be avoided. yet then there is injustice that needs to be adressed. it is a confusing and morally ambiguous situation.
but i was impressed that the poem did not take on political dimension but focussed on the human cost. a torturer is one without a soul, and the tortured is disembodied.

[Eilis]

Thank you, Ern. I appreciate this comment. Speaking up for the vulnerable or for injustice is sometimes considered a political act in itself so I’m glad you didn’t view this explicitly that way. It is the innocent civilians that seem to bear the biggest burden in war. Those unjustly persecuted or robbed of their abilities to live without fear or harm. You are right about the moral ambiguity of conflict. And the times we are in make these things more challenging because there is so much commentary seeking to guide our perceptions. My aim with anything I write like this is to honor the humanity of those who can no longer speak. Thanks for sharing your ideas here. They are appreciated.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

and i wish you good luck on that quest. those in the school of rock and roll knows that Love is our only guide and we should resist charlatans who try to guide us in a different direction. rock on!

[Matthew Daalling]

This is truly an amazing poem (so you wanna hit it is?) Your an amazing author (so you wanna hit it?) Your poetry stands out above everyone elses (so you wanna hit it?) What I'm trying to say is I think I wanna hit it lol.

[Matthew Daalling]

I think your an awesome writer, but I detect a bit of sarcasm in this one. Am I right?

[gram linski]

A brutal subject, and a far too constant one, this was written with great empathy and poetry, no easy thing, the way your phrasing can/must be read is sometimes quite delicate but with a rusty iron edge, excellent poem ,Eilis

[Eilis]

Thank you, Gram. I really appreciate what you say about empathy and poetry. I usually don't write about these things because I don't feel like I do very well with that balance. It is difficult.

I do always appreciate hearing from you.

[Terpsichore]

These modern day evil b******s make Vlad the Impaler seem like a p***y cat.

I would like to think they will get what they deserve, which is an eternity in hell, but I'm not holding my breath. Personally, I lay the blame in equal proportion at the hand wringers and shoulder shruggers, who actually have it in their power to stop these monsters in their tracks, but do nothing save pass one pointless resolution after another.

Roosevelt and Churchill must be turning in their graves.

T

[Eilis]

Hi, T, thanks for the comment. I’m with you on lamenting the do-nothing’s. It’s deeply disturbing.

And, yeah, such horrid methods of barbarity exist now. I can only imagine what the men and women of the past would feel when confronted by it. The cold hearts prevail.

Appreciate your visit.

[CD Campbell]

Nothing like reading a poem on atrocities that puts your small world into perspective. I think you've laid out the hatred that men have for each other with liquid flowing barbarity. Your dangling legs and belling skinned beef is enough to warrant the exorcism of pettiness in our culture. This is raw. I'm ashamed to say I have been ignorant of these things. Your pen on this one has felt like a cold shower or a punch to the gut. Can I even congratulate you on writing this amazing poem?

[Eilis]

Thanks, CD. I keep typing things then deleting them.

This is a bit of an older poem, but I feel like it’s an important topic for consideration. People are still being battered in Syria. Civilians who have been thrown into chaos and surrounded by death. I feel very distressed about it. I set out to express how easy these things happen and how slick and heartless leadership can be.

I had a conversation with someone where they quoted the Bible as having predicted the destruction of Syria, and so they felt what was happening there was not troubling. And also that we have no duty to help people whose lives have been destroyed by war. I know we value our ideas of sovereignty and the freedom to insulate ourselves from the troubles of others in America, but, I just don’t see the world that way. I attend a church that provides support for several Syrian refugee families. I feel being an example of Christ’s love in the community is my duty. I always default to the Sermon on the Mount.

Anyway, thanks for reading. I wanted it to be jarring, so your response is great. Exactly what I wanted.

I always appreciate your responses. Very much

[CD Campbell]

Well I knew about Aleppo and other things happening as far as Christians being slaughtered and taken as slaves over there by ISIS and others, but didn't know very much about this site in particular. I know some people think the abrahamic religions have destroyed this world, but that's stupid. Men are just evil and most of the time will take any type of advantage they can. Sure, its sickening, but we can only offer a hand and help whoever wants to relocate. That's nice writing on your part.

[Eilis]

Thanks, again. Sorry if my response feels like a freight train. It’s my emotional feedback spilling out. None of it meant to be directed at you or anyone particular. It’s that sense of helplessness that these kinds of situations make me feel.

[CD Campbell]

Nope. You're good. I admire the passion.