Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • REDEMPTION THRILLER
  • THE CONTRACT Series
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

Forgiveness

8/22/2021

25 Comments

 
Hello dear blog friends! I've been quiet for a while, just dealing with the stuff of life. Today I'm sharing a poem, my response to  a Tanka Tuesday prompt. You can see the photo below. Before I invite you to read my poem, I  want to share a little about me.

My career was in higher education. For the last ten years of that work, I was an administrator in a college in southern California. It was located near Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps base. Many Marine veterans enrolled in this college. Almost all had served in Afghanistan. They had enlisted after 9/11. 

Part of my responsibility was Veteran Affairs. The vets at this college were mostly Marines, and most sustained injuries, both visible and invisible. I never heard any of them complain about their handicaps. Their courage, pride, and their dedication humble me to this day. 

I could relay many stories, but what I want to share with this post is that my heart aches for all the men and women who served in Afghanistan and now wonder why. My heart breaks for the our citizens in that country, for our allies who struggle to get out, and for the Afghan people who now run for their lives. The images haunt me throughout the day and all I can do is pray. 

Author Colleen Chesebro offered the photo prompt below. When I first saw it, I thought to write about the night sky, but then the images of Afghanistan darted across my TV screen. My response to the photo is three stanzas of my own syllabic creation (3-3-4-4-5-5-6-6) and I have titled it Forgiveness. 
Picture
Getty photo

FORGIVENESS

no rooftop

tall enough
no megaphone
to hold the screams
tears ripping through hearts
swell to the heavens
where they plead assistance
while we bow low in shame

rivers run
red with pain
fear holds children
no warm embrace
one refrain echoes
run faster my child
but desperation leads
there's no safe hiding place

together
we share life
under one sky
where stars delight
your pain is now ours
we suffer our failure
brokenhearted we see
hopefully not too late
25 Comments
Joan Hall link
8/22/2021 18:49:04

Both beautiful and sad, Gwen. Our vets need to know what they did wasn't in vain.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 05:20:42

Thank you for sharing, Joan. The situation is so tragic, and I worry for our vets, for everyone. I suspect all of us feel the same.

Reply
D.L. Finn
8/23/2021 01:26:48

Beautifully sad, Gwen. I can't watch the images on TV it hurts too much. I do hope your last line echoes loud and that it isn't.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 05:22:15

I'm with you, Denise. I've only caught glimpses of the tragedy and cannot watch the unfolding tragedy. It is simply too overwhelming for me.

Reply
Staci Troilo link
8/23/2021 03:31:30

I share your anguish, Gwen. Beautifully expressed.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 05:24:53

Thank you, Staci. I suspect most of us shed tears and suffer helplessness.

Reply
Harmony Kent link
8/23/2021 04:11:40

Powerful, Gwen, and moving. This poem gave me goose bumps. Lovely verse and sentiment. Hugs xx :)

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 05:27:55

Thank you, Harmony. It's a heart wrenching situation, and I suspect the entire world sheds tears over the unfolding horror.

Reply
Yvette M Calleiro link
8/23/2021 04:14:36

Your poem captures their situation perfectly, Gwen. I can feel the heartache and anxiety. Thank you for sharing it with us. :-)

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 05:28:58

Thank you, dear Yvette. May our loving God help us all.

Reply
Priscilla Bettis link
8/23/2021 05:01:30

Your poem is so sad and so well done. I am praying for . . . everything and everybody.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 05:29:33

Thank you, Priscilla. Everything and everyone -- I'm with you in prayer.

Reply
Patricia Anne Pierce-garcia Schaack link
8/23/2021 06:17:04

Hi,
my heart aches too for all those soldiers that went to Afghanistan and came back without a limb on their bodies, some without sight, others with mental and emotional pains that will take years to heal, and I thought about your poem above and asked myself can they forgive us for forgetting their sacrifice and can we forgive ourselves as a nation for opening up a can of worms that should have never been opened. I wonder if that can ever be achieved. If it can, then forgiveness is the only way and nations can begin to heal. For right now though, like you, I pray and hope for change.

Very moving poem, my dear.

Shalom aleichem

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 09:18:05

Thank you, dear Pat. It's a heartbreaking, breath-stealing, tears making, horror. I deeply hope for the change you mentioned. Bless you.

Reply
Mae Clair link
8/23/2021 07:22:08

It is so hard hearing the news, seeing the images. My heart breaks for all even as I question how everything could have gone so wrong so quickly. I continually pray for a solution and for peace. This poem is one of your best.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 09:26:17

Thank you, dear Mae. Like you, I continually pray. 💗

Reply
John Howell link
8/23/2021 08:15:00

I liked the title of your poem Gwen." Forgiveness." It really describes what Joe Biden needs to ask of the world, the Afghan people, our veterans and us. His stubbornness and the resulting shortsighted plan is a disaster. He needs to beg forgiveness and then take the steps necessary to correct the situation. He needs to be accountable.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 09:29:35

Thank you, John. You are 100 percent right. Biden needs to beg forgiveness. I'd also like him to put all this staff and the Joint Chiefs on a flight to Afghanistan to help with the evacuations. They all need a reality check.

Reply
Jan Sikes
8/23/2021 11:12:30

There is so much injustice in the world. And the rivers across the planet run red with the blood of those who have died for no good reason. Thank you for sharing!

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 11:26:51

It's as though the planet is awakening to injustice in all its many forms. As difficult as it is, I believe something beautiful will eventually emerge.

Reply
Jacquie Biggar link
8/23/2021 11:45:15

I can't get the image of the Afghan father handing his baby up to a soldier and watching it swiftly disappear into the bowels of a truck.
Those poor, poor people.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/23/2021 15:07:43

I'm with you, Jacquie. The photos are horrifying. How desperate can a person be to give up his or her baby? 💙

Reply
Jill Weatherholt link
8/25/2021 06:35:33

Your poem has captured the horrifying situation beautifully, Gwen. My heart breaks for those who are stranded. I can hardly watch the coverage any longer. Our "leaders" appear heartless...so sad. xo

Reply
Gwen M Plano
8/25/2021 09:32:30

I'm with you, Jill. The horror brings me to tears throughout the day. I can't believe the U.S. has taken this stance and will depart the country without our citizens and allies and those who have worked with us for years. 💙

Reply
mark bierman link
9/10/2021 13:53:27

Well done, Gwen.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 
    * indicates required

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    June 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


Plano Enterprises, LLC
Photos used under Creative Commons from Kevin M. Gill, Joel Bedford, qthomasbower, crosescribe, Juho Holmi, diana_robinson, W Presley & B Kunce Photography......WI. USA, U.S. Geological Survey, Ian Sane, florianric, NikoMC, van Van Es, Yen Chao 趙彥, MissMessie, Yuriy Kuzin, Ben Zvan, Bichuas (E. Carton), Nina Matthews Photography, hehaden, alexdecarvalho, Tim RT, Kurdistan Photo كوردستان, Candida.Performa, peddhapati (Thanks for 1M Views!!!), Jhong Dizon | Photography, Waheed Akhtar Photography, lawmurray, USFWS Pacific, JalilArfaoui, SurFeRGiRL30, Lauren Finkel Photography, maf04, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL, Dakiny, vauvau, Zanastardust, Monica's Dad, timpeartrice, marumeganechan, Rafael Acorsi, seyed mostafa zamani, Jorge Franganillo, Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea), The National Guard, D.Fletcher, nada abdalla, Ted LaBar, alison.mckellar, Infomastern, Elvert Barnes, m01229, theglobalpanorama