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Saturday, 20 May 2017

Poem - Jerusalem Bus 20

htJerusalem Bus    20 September 1995


Like the Chagall figure
I floated above 
The Wailing Wall
Touching the ancient stones 
I felt the deep pain  -
Centuries of anguish 
of my people.


I saw the river of tears
That sought the assuage 
The grief of 3000 years. 

Even now ethereal
Dawn mists softly
Creep along the city skyline
Creating an eerie feeling 
Of fear in me.

In among the traffic 
Bus 20 moved slowly
Up the hill
Hesitated a moment

Then all hell broke loose
A blinding piercing explosion
Tore through the bus

Fire, smoke, a huge pall 
A black umbrella 
Edged with orange flames 
Engulfed everything.

Startled pigeons flew
in all directions
Tree branches blown 
asunder.

Cries for help
Screams of pain
Sirens wailing - fire brigades
Ambulances and police cars
all converge.

A weeping man carrying 
a bleeding woman 
in his arms. 
Stretchers loaded
on every side.

A scorched briefcase - papers scattered
Bloodied torn shoes and clothing
Abandoned bags
Parcels - a child's headless doll.

A ripped tallit hangs drunkenly 
from a twisted pipe.
Splintered glass everywhere

Opposite bus 20 -  bus 9
Gaping burning and blown apart
Skeletal seats dripping blood 

I wept with anger - burned with hatred
Hatred for demons 
that had engineered this act.

My whole being demanded revenge
"Vengeance is mine sayeth the lord"

Like in a dream 
The pigeons returned 
Nearby a white dove 
Fluttered to earth
Carrying no olive branch

By Hillie Feldman copyrighttps://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1729858876454860687#allposts 

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