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Saturday, November 17, 2012

Bigger Than the Sky


There are panthers
in the forests of Mumbai.
This sets me dreaming
of a land where temples
lean towards the sky.
A poet walks in footsteps
of Siddhartha
as another day
on Planet Earth goes by.

There's a doctor
in the refugee camps of Gaza
who lost three daughters
to Israeli bombs.
He works for peace
and daily crosses borders.
"I shall not hate," he says.
I shall not cease."

There's a Sky-show going on
this very second!
We live in miracles,
Traveler,
you and I.
Look up.
Look up!
Let's never cease
our striving
to keep our vision
bigger than the Sky.

Given the recent news, which I admit I am not up to date on, as my old heart cant take it, with the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Palestine, I was reminded of this book, and the poem I wrote in 2011, after I read it.


"I Shall Not Hate - A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity" was written by Izzeldin Abuelaish. He was born and raised in the refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, educated in medicine in the US, and daily goes between his home in the Israeli-controlled Gaza Strip to work in the hospital in Israel. 

He has devoted his life to medicine, and to reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. Three of his daughters were killed by Israeli bombs, and this man's response has won him humanitarian awards. "I Shall Not Hate" he insists. His deepest hope is that his daughters "will be the last sacrifice on the road to peace between Israeli and Palestine."


Sadly, given glimpses of the news in recent days, this has not been the case. 


Wild Woman is doing a lot of staring at the sky these days. Down below, it's too perplexing.


I will post this at Poets United's Poetry Pantry. 

29 comments:

  1. Wow, I can't imagine having this type of attitude~ It amazes me...
    You poem is wonderful and the ending just makes me sigh...wow!
    "Look up!
    Let's never cease
    our striving
    to keep our vision
    bigger than the Sky."
    Yes, I so hope we can listen to your wisdom! You have a beautiful voice and I will try to see this view :D
    @>--------

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  2. I too am leaning on the sky. For me it all seems too much--as you say--the march toward war when there are such people on the earth, when wonders still exist. This poem has a great deal of power.

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  3. Hate destroys so much...love "keep our vision bigger than the sky"...glad there are those committed to peace...nice write...

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  4. Such wisdom in this poem. Yes we have to look up to the sky and hope that everyone sees the light shining down. Such difficult days to watch the news.

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  5. A lofty--but crucial--message.

    Nice-sounding rhyme placed throughout, too.

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  6. Seamus Heaney once spoke of being ambassadors of the republic of conscience. Izzeldin Abuelaish certainly is so...as are you in your own way.wonderfully done.

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  7. Yes ..Sherry..
    We will keep our vision bigger than the sky..
    Powerful poem..

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  8. The news is bleak on all sides of the fence. So much hared, so much destruction. This man is a light of hope in the darkness that hangs over that whole region.
    As with the doctor, your poem is a beacon of hope for us as a species Sherry. Yes, keep looking toward the sky, it is a sky of peace and not of war.

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  9. I am thankful I can look to the sky and not see another bomb hurtling through it, no matter the side launching it.

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  10. It's a blessing to see the light, but quite a few see the darkness instead, or choose to see that maybe. I'm glad to have a peaceful horizon where I am, and I hope that peace one day reigns on the world too. Beautiful poetry and a beautiful message, Sherry.

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  11. It IS perplexing down here below, but if enough of us take up "I shall not hate" as our mantra, the perplexities will lessen, don't you think?

    Another Whirl with Simon

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  12. I too spend time staring at the sky hoping we humans can' keep our vision bigger than the sky.' (I posted a poem a few days ago with similar themes) Perhaps our thoughts will join forces across the miles for change. I enjoyed my visit to your blog!

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  13. You always share such enlightening information with us Sherry. What a fascinating man. I love the poem you wrote. Let us all look up and affirm - I will love.

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  14. This is more than inspirational, but the word I'm seeking is so large it hasn't been invented yet. To say I will not hate after losing your daughters, your babies? That is the kind of human I want to be. Your poem is beautiful and the subject matter saddened me, tugged at my heart. I remember a dream I had during a dark time in my life. I was walking down a dangerous street and it was so dark I couldn't see... then I looked up at the sky and the stars were so beautiful and colorful... it was like a painting. And I remember thinking in the dream, "If it wasn't so dark, I couldn't see this." So I too believe in looking up at the sky...

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  15. excellent poem Sherry, my hat is off to Dr.Abuelaish he is a strong soul indeed.

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  16. May there be peace and no more bombs exploding in either direction...in any direction, in any place beneath the heavens... the sky here is now laced with rose and orange ribboned clouds... let them be the only fiery trails we view above, the only quaking we feel be that of our own hearts, stirred by compassion and love, not violence, hatred, war.

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  17. The contrasts in this poem are startling, but make me think, and hope.

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  18. Sherry, this is really moving and very beautiful.

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  19. There are panthers in the forests of Mumbai--indeed there are forests at all in Mumbai--because part of the city is marked off as a preserve. However, there are more big cats than there is territory available for them, and so now they tend to wander into the city by night and pick off the odd citizen from time to time. Meow.

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  20. Wonderful poem, even though originating from sad facts.

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  21. A message of hope. If we all had this attitude the world would be such a better place.

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  22. Wow. What an amazing message! Do you actually keep three blogs? THat is so amazing. I have my hands full keeping up with one, neglecting the other and balancing work and family! Glad to meet you here! Catching up on my Blog world and wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  23. i am heartsick at all the wars and violence going on today, as well as the atrocities against women and girls all around the world. thank you for reminding me to look up!

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  24. A powerful piece about a powerful prophet of a man... my friend the doctor still hasn't returned my book from you... I guess it is a tempting book to hold on to but I shall get it back one of these days... Very distressing times xxxxxx

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