This piece is a response to a recent tragedy in our community. It is also a reflection of being a mother and a teacher who is asked to make sense for young people what doesn’t make sense, and explain what is simply unexplainable. Katharine Graham once said that, “The truth and the news are not the same thing.” She was right. The news is just facts (or some version of them) but the truth is what you feel in response to what you are shown, and told to deal with.
I hope this poem finds you, and holds your hand through the biggest hurts and fears of what you see and hear. Your sensitive hearts are not alone dear ones. Even still, I believe love conquers all.
The Finite Infinite
I’m not one to watch the news
because I don’t want to see what I see
I feel too much
like pinpricks my senses are acupunctured until
I feel nothing at all
which is worse
But in time every nerve finds it’s way to exposed
every fiber rubs raw, and taught
and I ached in places only the soul can reach
because when I see what I don’t want to see …
when I hear what I don’t want to hear
I can no longer afford the luxury of pretend
reality is painful
and present
and insists on continuing to be
what it is
dark
Sometimes I don’t know the right way
because there isn’t one
to tell
to teach
to soothe the edges of jagged words
of broken ideals
in minds too young to comprehend what they’re asked to
in hearts too pure to make sense of what they weren’t meant to know
I want to silence voices of hate
I want to blur the lines of color
I want to carry burdens
release fears
and renew hope in the seemingly finite, infinite resource
of love
Maybe if it were given a chance
to indwell
to arise and awaken
we would find ourselves safe
in a world where I didn’t have to be afraid
to watch
the news
this quotable life 