I recently finished reading "Liliana's Invincible Summer" by Cristina Rivera Garza so the issue of femicide is at the front of my waking thoughts. Thank you for naming the thing that is so hard to look at and so important to see.
I clicked “like” when I finished reading your poem because it’s fierce and understands that our eyes break light, shield light, turn away from light’s harsh fucking dead-land glare.
And yet, the poem knows that no matter how much we want to turn away, when death takes someone we love, how can we?
Fifteen years ago, on a Sunday afternoon, I walked with a poet named Michelle across the bridge to Ciudad Juarez. We ate burgers and sipped beer. Michelle told me about the women who had disappeared.
It was an ordinary afternoon — children laughed, we ate and talked, a street band played nearby, dogs milled around, nothing much to report.
“Even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course
Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot
Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer's horse
Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.” — Auden
It takes a hell of a lot of literary experience and spiritual awareness to write about broken light, the stuff of monsters that haunts us all. But for the grace of God, there go I.
Dear Mirabai, the raw brutality of your poem moves me deeply- as you say no mother should ever have to do what you’ve done & you should not have had to do that on your own. As I think of it, let myself feel it my tears flow for you & Lucia. I can’t imagine the depth of your pain. Earlier today I read that young men are luring women on dates where they are unleashing terrible acts of violence as vigilantes on women they see as predators. This is happening here in my sleepy little city at the bottom of the world and did not make it into our mainstream news- how can things possibly change if they are hidden from plain sight?
May divine light illuminate the darkness & in time May you have peace in your heart.
Thank you. I hate looking at the darkness. But I know I have to.
Thank you.
I recently finished reading "Liliana's Invincible Summer" by Cristina Rivera Garza so the issue of femicide is at the front of my waking thoughts. Thank you for naming the thing that is so hard to look at and so important to see.
Beautiful, Thank you Barbara.
Mirabai…. if your poems become a book they will burn the paper….
This is a story you needed to tell us all!
Thank you!
Thank you, Shari.
may we share in holding... it is too much to bear
Thank you, Susan.
Thank you, dear Mirabai.
Thank you, Casey.
I clicked “like” when I finished reading your poem because it’s fierce and understands that our eyes break light, shield light, turn away from light’s harsh fucking dead-land glare.
And yet, the poem knows that no matter how much we want to turn away, when death takes someone we love, how can we?
Fifteen years ago, on a Sunday afternoon, I walked with a poet named Michelle across the bridge to Ciudad Juarez. We ate burgers and sipped beer. Michelle told me about the women who had disappeared.
It was an ordinary afternoon — children laughed, we ate and talked, a street band played nearby, dogs milled around, nothing much to report.
“Even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course
Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot
Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer's horse
Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.” — Auden
It takes a hell of a lot of literary experience and spiritual awareness to write about broken light, the stuff of monsters that haunts us all. But for the grace of God, there go I.
Well done. Well done.
Thank you, Nave, for taking the time to offer such substantial praise.
Oh, my heart aches for you, dear Mirabai! I cannot imagine the nightmare. May the violence end!
Thank you, Barbara. May the violence end, indeed.
The argument I was having with my daughter seems infinitesimally small and ridiculous now. This puts everything in perspective.
Thank you, Amy.
Beyond words. I would die, unable to carry this.
Thank you, Jeanne.
Unbearable.
Thank you, Alexandra.
Heart-struck. Thanks for sharing. And sharing the grief. We are here for you and the memory of your precious daughter.
What a nightmare.😔
This was so incredibly moving.
Debemos llorarle. Debemos orar.
Dear Mirabai, the raw brutality of your poem moves me deeply- as you say no mother should ever have to do what you’ve done & you should not have had to do that on your own. As I think of it, let myself feel it my tears flow for you & Lucia. I can’t imagine the depth of your pain. Earlier today I read that young men are luring women on dates where they are unleashing terrible acts of violence as vigilantes on women they see as predators. This is happening here in my sleepy little city at the bottom of the world and did not make it into our mainstream news- how can things possibly change if they are hidden from plain sight?
May divine light illuminate the darkness & in time May you have peace in your heart.
Dejanos cargate en tu dolor, nunca estas sola ❤️
💔