Mary, who writes at In the Corner of My Eye, was very moved by this video, which went viral right after the tragic events in Paris in November. Do enjoy the music and its message, and Mary's beautiful poem in response. Paris is a city she has visited, that is dear to her heart.
Imagine, yes imagine,
what it would be like
if we could live in peace!
Imagine, yes imagine
what it would be like
if we could have no fear.
Imagine, yes imagine..
imagine, yes imagine..
no I really cannot see
how it will ever be possible
for hateful killing to end
and evil to be controlled.
Imagine, yes imagine
I wish I could imagine
peace not drifting further away.
Mary: I wrote the poem �Imagine� the day after the terrorist attacks in the city of Paris. I had been watching on-site journalists from CNN report on the situation, and one of them mentioned that behind them there was a man on a bicycle pulling a piano. The reporters then mentioned that he set up his grand piano and began to play outside the Bataclan Theater. And the song that he played was John Lennon�s �Imagine.� I found myself listening to that song again (on Youtube) and was then inspired to write my poem.
At first the name of the pianist was not known, but eventually it was disclosed that he was Davide Martello, and he is known for traveling to areas of conflict and playing his piano. If you visit my blog post you will see a video of him playing. I am very much moved every time I listen to him.
As far as the style of my poem, I decided to repeat the word �imagine� in most every verse, to stress the importance of the word for me and, in a small way, to pay tribute to John Lennon�s song and to Davide Martello�s rendition of it in the face of such tragedy. The message, I would say, mixes hope for peace with my own personal disillusionment that it is possible.
I do keep seeing peace drift further and further away, as I express in the last stanza. We do, however, somehow have to keep hope alive. We must continue to imagine��...
Sherry: Yes, against all odds, we must. It is only through our desire and demand for a peaceful world, that it can ever happen.
Now let's look at Loredana's poem, which was also inspired by the tragic events in Paris. Loredana writes at Blogging Away. Her poem also reads like a song, bringing light to our spirits, which may be hanging a little heavy in such times as these.
let peace
illuminate
the city of lights
let peace
illuminate the world
today, we pray
we grieve
but do not fear
let hope
prevail
despite despair
fall in love again
under a starlit sky
in the city of lights
its people healed
their hearts renewed
let love
surround them
like a beacon of light
today, we pray
we are Paris
~ ~ ~
Loredana: Thank you, Sherry. I'm deeply honored and humbled that you're featuring my peace poem. The poem came to be the night I heard about the terrorist attacks in Paris. I was so saddened by the awful news, and it immediately brought back memories of 9/11. I work in New York City and I feel that by the grace of God, I was spared, as I was not in the office on that fateful day. I thought about the innocent victims, their families, the emotional pain, the devastating loss of loved ones. All I could do was pray, and the poem came to me in the form of a prayer. Paris is known as the city of lights, and while they turned off the lights on the Eiffel Tower, many famous sights around the world turned them on in solidarity. Even the Empire State Building was lit up in red, white and blue.
And the beautiful light emanating from the stained glass windows in my own Church was inspiring. So light became a metaphor for enlightenment, solidarity, spirituality. And I wanted to send a message of love and light and peace to Paris, to the world, in my own humble way, with my own little poem that came straight from my heart. Wishing all my poet friends at Poets United a peaceful and blessed Holiday Season!
Sherry: What a beautiful story, Loredana. And how close to home the attack in Paris must have felt, as you were closely connected to the events of 9/11. I, too, was moved by all of the red, white and blue lights, lit in solidarity. Thank you for this beautiful prayer.
I was struck by Anjum's passionate prayer for peace, at her blog, Poetic Oceans. It is a strong, stirring plea for a peaceful world. Let's take a look.
Be it Paris NY Beirut Peshawar or Islamabad
or any other town village or city in the world
when people can walk talk eat or drive with ease
beauty rests stays prevails, but only with peace
Just like I see you green, manifesting majesty
at the foot of Margalla Hills, so others see, that
are home to them, nations of the world who
live, breathe, and fly freedom flags unfurled
let all be within their own beloved land
green colorful peaceful and grand
Oh My City Dear, send full peace everywhere
we all live on one Earth, planet created
for us all, let us not be oblivious nor close
our eyes, time flies, life dies,
save All,
forgive All
Truth will triumph not Lies
Come peace peace peace for All
Spread strong covers
let Light shine bright, tranquility descend
remove all dislike, drench all anger
drown all hate,
Let Goodwill stand tall.
Anjum: Thank you very much for selecting my Peace Poem. I feel honored and am deeply grateful to You and All at Poets United for your profound encouragement and support.
For quite some time, my heart has been heavy and the spirit laden, though life is blessed with comfort at home. Yet when I see deception,injustice,depression,poverty and inequality in my nation, I am grieved to the soul. I realized that all this has increased all over the world also.
Added to this is the killing of innocent people, dying for no fault of their own, for no purpose and for no crime. When more than 100 children were killed in a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, the grieving heart could not bear anymore. What can I do to lessen this evil killing? what effort can I make for tolerance and peace? While I was still thinking,more innocents were killed, more blood spilled, more mass graves dug...my native land, Kashmir, is bleeding, bleeding for peace...If I cannot leave the house, the least I can and should do is to give a Voice to my Pen and be brave enough to Call Out Loud for Peace.
And then came Divine Guidance. Words came and this poem was formed with a Call for Peace to All Humanity living on the same planet Earth. And above All, Poets United is the Sacred Gateway that leads us ahead and helps to manifest the best that is written. Thank you Poets United.
Sherry: Wow. Thank you, Anjum, for caring so much, for finding these strong and beautiful words, and for your kind message to Poets United. I know that Kashmir is described as a 'Heaven on earth' for its beauty. Your heartbreaking phrase "bleeding for peace" stirs my soul. So many places in the world now lie bleeding, even though most of the citizens of earth long for peace. We must remember - and insist - that Peace is Possible. If humans can make war, they can make peace.
It is good to contemplate peace, at a time when the world has never needed it more. I love Anjum's question, "What can I do?" Our words, prayers and energy, added to those across the world, hopefully will help turn the tide towards peace on earth that most humans want so much. One can only hope.
Thank you, Mary, Loredana and Anjum, for adding your voices to the cry for peace.
Thank you, Mary, Loredana and Anjum, for adding your voices to the cry for peace.
Next Monday will feature our announcement of a winter break at Poets United, with best wishes to all citizens on earth, in whatever events they may or may not be observing. In the New Year, do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!
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