In remembrance: Paris - November 2015

[moth2fic]

I am taking a day's 'hiatus' on posting about myself, my adventures and my writing, to share my feelings about the horrors of Friday night. j_flattermann inspired me with her beautiful post but hers is f'locked whereas I shall, for once, leave mine public.

Comments

[fiorenza_a]

People have been re-posting this, it was written for the riots, but captures the mood of the present moment beautifully too, I think.

what they did yesterday afternoon by warsan shire

they set my aunts house on fire

i cried the way women on tv do

folding at the middle

like a five pound note.

i called the boy who use to love me

tried to ‘okay’ my voice

i said hello

he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?

i’ve been praying,

and these are what my prayers look like;

dear god

i come from two countries

one is thirsty

the other is on fire

both need water.

later that night

i held an atlas in my lap

ran my fingers across the whole world

and whispered

where does it hurt?

it answered

everywhere

everywhere

everywhere.

http://warsanshire.blogspot.com/

http://warsanshire.tumblr.com/

[moth2fic]

That's beautiful. I've saved it to my poetry to keep folder.
I was horribly aware of the events unfolding in Paris - two of my AO3 colleagues were 'involved' in that one was at home in central Paris, safe but confined to the apartment, and the other had a cousin who was out that evening and had to seek refuge with strangers via the porteouverte twitter message. We were in the AO3 staff chatroom following everything as it happened and hoping and hoping for our friends - and for all of France.

[fiorenza_a]

I'm glad they're both safe.

But all words just seem so inadequate.

[margaret_r]

The Tricolore has appeared on public buildings in all our cities. It's horrible and sad that so much devastation can happen, that people are capable of such atrocities.

Meanwhile, we must stand with Paris and Beirut, and let their citizens know they are not alone
Yes!

[moth2fic]

I like the colour 'statement' cities are making - and so quickly, too. I just hope our leaders can respond as quickly and decisively to ISIS.