November 27, 2004
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SATURDAY POEMS I ADMIRE
(See sidebar for others)Some Days It is All I Can Do (for Margaret Hassan)
to keep myself from walking around crying
babbling when someone asks about
last night’s brain-dead comedy
I felt someone pulled off the streets
of baghdad this morning
her fear fogged my glasses
I reached in my pocket and lint
was pulled out
as the blindfold came down
over her eyes
the hard chair pressing against
her back
is stiffness in my neck
the tears are just there
behind my eyes like
the drops on the window
if she dies tonight
I will bathe in my tears
to try and cleanse at least
one soulLight Under the Door
(In Memoriam: Margaret Hassan)
she did not toil there
to profit
from the flow of black gold
a brass door knob
a rusty bottle cap
a young girls voice saying thank you
may have found its way
into her suitcase
her hands trembled
not when the door was locked
but when it opened
not knowing the time
chosen to write upon her death
I see how this false war
could have led to this
the blackness echoed back to her
to the light under the door
she whispered
I would not have done otherwiseRandolph Nesbitt
47 years old
Aliso Viejo, CA
poet/artist/photographer, mortgage broker by trade, Poet Against the War
Deep Thought: “I think Superman and Santa Claus are actually the same guy, and I’ll tell you why: Both fly, and both have a beard.”
Today I am grateful for: The few things left you can buy without rebates
Guess the Movie: “Wait a minute. You aren’t seriously suggesting that if I get through the wire… and case everything out there… and don’t get picked up… to turn myself in and get thrown back in the cooler for a couple of months so you can get the information you need?” Answer: The Great Escape, 1963.
Winner: thenarrator.
A Coward’s Tribute to Margaret Hassan
by Tom Nagy
I am nothing more than a timid college professor, but the likely murder of Margaret Hassan compels me to respond to her honesty, hospitality and ultimate sacrifice with my own painful, but ultimately hopeful tribute. (Rest of article here.)
End of Day: 9:00 pm
+ = Feels so good to keep feeding the birds and squirrels as the weather gets colder and colder.
- = Circuit City has the crappiest salespeople.
Comments (8)
Great Escape!
A perfect deep thought
dazzling poetry here today and a great link, now I need to retreat and catch up, but that may not be til tomorrow.
: ) very nice stuff indeed!!
Great Escape it is! One of my favorite movies of all time.
Sobering memoriam. Her friendly smile posted on your site is so different from the video of her terrified pleas.
I feel grieved for this loss, especially for all the people she was helping….
wow…a beautiful tribute…
Beautiful tribute. I morn for her and I morn for the world which will never be the same. Something dreadful has started there.
I have been haunted by the senseless murder of Margaret Hassan – she who poured herself out upon the people without violence, she who gave bread not weapons, not death, not war… blessed are the peacemakers, the gentle of spirit, the pure of heart
words are empty and hollow compared to what I feel and yet they are my only tool and silence is far greater sin, shall we simply throw up our hands without weeping, without mourning, without crying aloud ?
Mercy