Writing about Greek Fires (edited)

[Manna]

Printed with permission from Lizzy, on whose paragraphs this was based.
==============================================================



Writing about Greek Fires

I drive with the radio on
and the best sparks I get
regarding the fires in Greece
are forms of words and phrases.
nothing amazing
nothing that will help anyone.

once I made humble attempts
to speak their language,
recognize some of it-
my little receptors fire
at a familiar word,
but it’s a fabricated connection

to someone a million miles away
whom I’ve never even met.
I need the dispatcher’s translation
to get what was said
about a papery charcoal statue
of a mother and her children.

I hope someone writes a poem
like they did for September 11th
something based on politics
or government regulations
something wry about how tragedies
keep the people on fire.

========================================
original:

the best sparks I get
regarding the fires in Greece
are forms of words and phrases.
not anything, just all
I've seen and heard,
nothing amazing,
nothing worthy to keep,
nothing that will help anyone.

I drive with the radio on-
once made humble attempts
to speak their language,
recognize some of it-
my little receptors fire
at a familiar word,
but it’s a fabricated connection
to someone a million miles away
whom I’ve never even met.
I need the dispatcher’s translation
to get what was said
about a mother and children
like a papery charcoal statue.

I hope someone writes a poem
like they did for September 11th.
something based on politics
or government regulations.
something wry about how tragedies
keep the people on fire.

[lizzytysh]

That's beautiful, Manna. Thank you for being inspired and taking the time, thought, and thoughtfulness to write and post your poem about my attempts to write about these horrible fires and their massive impact. You've captured my feelings of helplessness and the impact of the human toll; and your single phrase about the mother and her children is unbelievable in its intensity and my vision. Thank you for caring and for finding the words.


Love,
Lizzy

[Manna]

edited.

[lizzytysh]

Hi Manna ~

I'm going to have to wait until I have more time to focus on and study the differences between your original and revised. For now, I trust your judgement that the latter is an improvement... though, as I've done a glance comparison, they both suit me. I appreciate the time you're taking with them.


~ Lizzy

[KjeXXXer]

Hi, Lizzy.
I have a question.
Why does this trouble you so much, as opposed to every other tragedy we hear about?

[lizzytysh]

Hi Axel ~

The tragedies have a way of hitting me hard. It's not restricted to this one. Having been to Athens many years ago, and to Athens/Piraeus/Hydra the last three summers, and, amongst other things, noticing that I have an affinity with their spoken language... by that, I mean that when I listened, I was able to discern individual words vs. everything sounding like a single, paragraph-long, word; and that I was memorizing some words and phrases fairly well... when the fires began burning there, I was able to imagine faces and voices and countenances of people I've interacted and spent time with. I like the Greek people very much. There's a feeling of 'second home' that comes with this. Situations that invoke terror and innocent lives beyond loss, stick with me; additionally, losses that occur as a result of outside forces are an even greater insult. I 'experience' it 'individually' ~ 64 killed isn't perceived as "64 total," but one person at a time, 64 times. This tragedy troubling me doesn't mean that others don't. Beyond this, I'm not sure how to answer your question.


~ Lizzy

[KjeXXXer]

Oh, I understand. I had forgotten all about your Hydra visit. It makes more sense, now, that you would be quite phased by the fires.

[Sophia]

Tragic memories, tragic reality for Australia now.
Manna, a belated thank you.

Sophia

[lizzytysh]

Yes, Sophia, it really does bring it all back with regard to Hydra. Fire is so horrific in the way it devastates people's [and animals] lives and their properties.


~ Lizzy