26 Comments
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Roger Hoffmann's avatar

I hesitate to try to attach any of my own inadequate words to express the myriad of feelings evoked; yet I must try. Your words here express the 'awful truth'... the convergence of beauty and love with grief, shock and horror at the brutality that we know is also part of our reality. Relatively comfortably ensconced thousands of miles away from this scene, many of us can simply choose to avoid seeing it or to ignore it altogether; but we can not for ALL are our family. I can only pray that mercy, justice and the love that spawns such things will eventually rise ascendant throughout the human world.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Well said, Roger! I share your prayer!

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Sabine Wilms, PhD's avatar

Thank you for sharing and speaking your truth from a place of love. If anything can save the many horrors we are currently facing in this world, it is the mama love so so so beautifully expressed in this poem. Thank you!

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Thank you, Sabine!

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Judith Dyer's avatar

You illustrate what we cannot see. No eyes on the ground. All journalists ground to dirt.

Horror every living dying moment. Whole families pulverized.

Israelis celebrate waiting for "their' land to be swept clean of rubble and flesh to become beach front condos for American war criminals.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

You said it, Judith!

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Judith Dyer's avatar

I have been commenting away since Oct7. Informing others of what I have learned.

Does it matter? ....Isn't AIPAC stronger than the US Constitution, the ICC, the lovely Houhtis....every force trying to have justice.

I said to myself a bunch of years ago..."the Jews will be the cause of WW3"

Where the hell did THAT thought come from? This was way before any of this horror.

Me: Not a student of history or politics. Just a smart openminded New Yorker. AKA: Jewisy NYC.

I think that some intuit facts that are in the air.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

To my readers: Your comments bring tears to my eyes not because of your response to what I've written but because of your response to the heroism and beauty of this woman's love for her children! That I have done some measure of justice to her is humbling! 🙏

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Glen Andersen's avatar

Heartbreaking, as a normal Response should be. Thankyou for helping us feel

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Edwin Gordon Thomasson's avatar

Your words are so deeply emblematic, so richly meaningful, and so moving I proudly admit to the tears that are streaming down my cheeks.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Very gratifying! I must admit that I was close to tears when I recorded this poem.

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

Beautifully heartbreaking poem.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Thank you, Cindy!

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Frank Lambert's avatar

What a sad, but noble poem from a Mother's point of view as they are the giver of life and the positive force to nurture rather than destroy life. Well, it was like that in years past for the most part.

I agree with the others who posted compassionate comments of praise for your poem, Diane, written from your heart with full knowledge of the Palestinian Holocaust which the world seems to be okay with, especially the Trump/Musk regime and the paid off US Congress in making it an offense to criticize the savagery of the Zionist regime in Israel.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Thank you, Frank!

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Lenny Cavallaro's avatar

I hope MANY other people -- particularly those unaware of the realities of the genocide -- will read and/or listen to this powerful poem!

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Thank you, Lenny!

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Diana van Eyk's avatar

So beautiful and moving, Diane. Thanks so much for posting your beautifully touching poem.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Thank you, Diana! Much appreciated!

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Raymond Kalberg's avatar

No more words. The picture says it all.

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John's avatar

Beautifully written.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Thank you, John!

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@smokygirl2006's avatar

Beautiful poem Diane. It moved me to tears. Thank you for sharing.😢☮️🇵🇸

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Thank you, Sylvia!

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Janice Anderson's avatar

You have definitely captured the depth of feeling a mother has for her children. We can't even imagine, from our comfortable lives, what it is like for mothers living in such unfathomable circumstances.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Thanks, Janice! This voice in this poem belongs to this remarkably heroic woman, not to me.

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