An Absence in Jerusalem

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I have created this group as a safe place to discuss and share the HUMAN experience of the Isreali-Palestinian situation. As political as the foundation of the conflict may be, this group is a place to cross the divide in human terms.

Location: global
Members: 130
Latest Activity: Dec 1, 2011

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Voices of Silence

This group is directly inspired from the reaction in iPeace today on the posting of the poem An Absence in Jerusalem. The poem was written following the death of Yassar Arafat and was the expression of how the middle east war zone, which shaped my childhood and adolescence just as profoundly as the apartheid violence in which I grew up, had cut into the 'shoreline of my heart' and my perception of violence, war, aggression, dissidence, terrorism, repression, propaganda, ideology, alienation and dehumanisation of the soul.
iPeace and mepeace live along side one another in parallel universes and it is my goal to facilitate here, a lounge in which the individuals may once more find resonance and meaning. As a poet, the significance how this poem, which is my personal reflection on the tragedy of what is being lost of humanity in this particular, but in any conflict, touched individuals here today, signifies that people are hungry to share, to be heard, to be embraced, to forgive and be forgiven. More than this, Absence in Jerusalem, is a pause in the window of each of our lives, a moment to reflect on our own fears, prejudices, desires and hopes. I would like the poem to be the meeting place of tolerance, discussion, compassion but most of all, a reflection of how fragile our humanity is irrespective of where ever we live, how ever we suffer, love, learn, celebrate and aspire to be the best we were born to become. (September 24, 2008 at 10:18pm)

(Thanks to co administrator of this group David Gould for first posting the poem here..)
Voices of Silence
…of an absence in Jerusalem..

The voices of silence
say it was an easy slaughter:
not even the grapevines
turned their heads away
in quiet dismay....

Skins, perturbed like sour cream
line the edges of the mind
aligned with beds asleep
across the horizon barren of shepards
and their sheep...

Young smiles run dry
and pave your homecoming shunning
thick embraces sodden in the sap of persuasion
where fattened promises drop like
brittle on their tongues

There of a past we no longer occupy
we stole the urgency in their eyes
and from the hip faked such loving
between slack breasts
they could not see the hate for coming

like missiles from birthing crotch
that shook the desert into frozen heat
turning anger into swarming plagues
and life into wet ash cursedly buried in bare feet

And we turn our backs in shame
Up against the executioner’s wall
But all tenderness hung out from the gallows
Fall as dead snakes wrapped in bougainvillea
Fuchsia against the inevitable tongue in foreign drawl

And in the shadows of jerusalem
Voices of the slaughter
speak in the silence of tomorrow
steerless as gazes lost on a winter's chill
tugging up at a defunct sun
and grapevines die for lack of love and innuendo.
©R.Sigel from The Roundabout Years.

https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/96972211?profile=original

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Comment by Roni Segoly on October 15, 2008 at 10:31am: Sigel
I usually use Gandhi quotes and others as my email signature. It is great way to spread the word

Comment by David Gould on October 10, 2008 at 2:32pm: A thought for the new year.

These divisions can only continue
for as long as we allow them.

An Absence in my Heart
the barrier remains because of our silence

I am very struct by the last words in the Qur'an which I wish to share:-

This is how we pay our dues
By walking humbly, side by side,
In the ways of the Lord,
With mutual aid and comfort,
And heartfelt prayer,
Backed by action,
That Allah’s good Purpose
May be accomplished
In us all together!

I have nothing I could add but to say we must do the Lord's bidding and learn to walk humbly together

Comment by Arisur on October 9, 2008 at 9:24am: Renee...as the Jewish people we have a lot to ask forgiveness about these years...I hate what I see happening with this occupation, this wall, this imposition of our will on our Palestinian cousins. We have corrupted ourselves. Gemar Hatimah Tova...only 11+ hrs to go...Ari Sur

Comment by Jacky on October 2, 2008 at 8:37am: I wrote this poem after reading an article about a Palestinian photographer, Ziad Jayyousi .... and the incredible human capacity for endurance .... everlasting hope. J

A tribute to endurance
People grow weary
year in and year out
justifying their existence
since 1948;
living and breathing
an air and space denied,
polluted
with racism and hatred
so decried!
And yet there are some
who won't be denied
their inherent right
of birth, life and death
of dignity and all the rest
in their homeland
of the heart;
You can erase the bricks and mortar,
the tree, the orchard and the olive
the school, the house next door,
my neighbour;
but you will never win the battle of
the land, Oh Israel, because I am man, like you,
and hearts and minds remain
forever entwined with the
soul and being of Palestine.

Comment by David Gould on October 1, 2008 at 7:23pm: This Sunday 5th October will see the start of a monthly UK Peace Procession going through Westminster.

It will be a gathering of peaceful people of all faiths and none, to express a deep desire to make peace possible. Programme as follows:

Westminster Cathedral: 1.30 meet outside on piazza. Join in prayers for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. Depart 2pm

Proceed to Westminster Abbey, and Methodist Central Hall,then on to Parliament Square.......Group photo of 'petition' written on a roll of wallpaper, with signatures from all over the world.

3pm - 3.30pm: Present ' We Demand a Peace Plan ' petition to Downing Street.
This petition is to highlight that there is no peace plan for the Middle East. One does not exist. WHY ?

We then continue on to Trafalgar Square and gather at the Edith Cavell statue, near St Martins-in Field for a vigil.

We hope you will be able to come along....

Next procession....Sun 2nd Nov.

Many thanks and best wishes
Maria

http://www.peacestrike.org.uk

Comment by Steve Westwood on October 1, 2008 at 12:07am: a poem i wrotFreedom...
The privilage of freedom is only given to the few
but for the many freedom exists only in their minds view
peace and freedom can only conquer
when we stop the need for want, greed and squander
my voice is one - and but a whisper
but spoken out may gain a listener
when multiplied a voice gets stronger
then soon an army- the few can't hold no longer
remember freedom is a privalige and free for all
when the few realise this there will be no need for WAR!
just one last thing before i go
the few only exists because we say so
and for those of you who choose not to listen
thats your right and choice
and not my decision
Steve Westwood
Copyright ©2008 Steve Westwood
Delete Comment.At 5:03pm on September 25th, 2008, Carlose i would like to share in your quest for peace

Comment by Dani Marael on October 1, 2008 at 12:00am: Listen this is so lovely: "Frieden dir Jerusalem" - worship song for the peace in Jerusalem.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJblvSdqXZo&feature=related - 110k

Shalom to this land
God bless you all for what you are doing
DaniMaRaEl

Comment by David Gould on September 30, 2008 at 9:28pm: Just found these words from the Ode to Joy a Hymn of praise by Ludwig van Beethoven and they made me cry for poor Jerusalem, divided.

Thy magic reunites those
Whom stern custom has parted;
All men will become brothers
Under thy gentle wing

Comment by patty on September 30, 2008 at 5:24am: Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat...We must find each other.
Mother Teresa
I love this idea of being united by the common ground of Poetry and ideas of PEACE. Thank you for organizing this group, Renee, and for everything you do