Photo: Free-to-use-sounds, on Unsplash
From the hollows of despair, they fled.
The shirts on their backs and the children
In their arms, all they could manage to
Take.
Even the abysmal shelters they had recently
Been made to call
Home,
No longer gave any protection or
A chance at repair or
Reform.
They left, dodging death and finding
Further fright to
Flee,
And in their hearts they held on
Tightly
To the slowly fraying
Memory,
Of days when life was softer
And beds were warm,
And babies slept
Well kept
Safe from war and hate and
Harm.
For Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Abysmal in 93 words
Note: Dedicated to all displaced, terrorized, pressed, oppressed, persecuted persons everywhere, and to the many millions who had, throughout history and in recent memory and in today’s times, been forced to further risk their lives by leaving what had once been home and safety behind, for the unknown.
Na'ama Yehuda 
This is a beautiful, tragic poem, Na’ama.
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Thank you, Dale … yes, I guess the realities of our times, and too many historical times, past and not so far past, were evoked for me.
It is none of it theoretical, alas.
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Yes. It is.
And no, none of it is theoretical. You painted your picture vividly.
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Thanks, Dale … I wish it WAS all fiction!
(BTW, didn’t read any of FF entries this week – it ain’t none of it personal … just that some photo visual effects don’t play nice with my finicky brain, so I had to temporarily abstain). XOXO
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You and me both, my friend.
And you are not obliged, yanno. I love Crispina’s challenge but sometimes, I just can’t fit it in. I am back at work and suffering so will have to resign myself to getting out of this particular business. xoxo
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Not obligated, I know … just wanted to note that I didn’t fall off the edge of the commenting-earth or been ignoring or what not.
Oy for the new job being a place of suffering — that won’t do! I hope you’ll find something better soon. And … ya know you can call to whine if you wish/need to, eh?
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Nahhh…. you guys will all miss me the first week of March. I am getting away and bringing nothing by my cell for photos – might not even bring my big camera.
I hate being a whine-ass.
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Yay for your upcoming trip and let me remind you that cellphone photos love Instagram … 😉 So I’ll be expecting some … (and I rhyme!)
As for the whine-invite – It works for non-whine ones, too … 😉
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I am feeling like I really need this getaway… And yes, if there is WiFi, there will be photos.
That is very sweet of you! 🙂
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😀 Getaways are good for getting away from things for a bit! 🙂
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Yes. Even if I’m bring two of my getting away froms 😉
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LOL, ah … well … nothing’s perfect, eh? 😉
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LOL… Of course I am not serious here…
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😀
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Your poem makes my heart hurt. There’s nothing new under the sun, is there? Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
https://rochellewisoff.com/2020/02/22/weekend-writing-prompt-abysmal/ 😉
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Thank you, Rochelle! I wish there was a whole lot more that’s new under the sun, but alas, there seem to be millions displaced and in danger, with millions more looking the other way or somehow justifying the adversity when it happens to whomever they see as the “other”… oy.
Sigh.
May we learn. Amen.
XOXO and off to read yours!
Na’ama
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Beautiful! ❤️
Adele Ryan McDowell, Ph.D.
AdeleRyanMcDowell.com Adeleandthepenguin.com MakingPeacewithSuicide.com Channeledgrace.com
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Thank you, Adele. I wish it were not reality for so many.
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A reality for far too many. You have broached the difficult subject matter expertly. So well done.
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Thank you, Violet! Yes, indeed a reality for far too many. 😦
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Leaves me aching to pull a chair close to the hearth….
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Yes …
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Wrenching, but somehow warm as well.
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Thank you, Bill. If even in the midst of hardship, there is heart, then there is hope still …
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