some thoughts are afraid to be finished
half sentences hang in the air
one after another,
they build a mesh
between self and event
a key to obliterating
those solitary moments in time—
one among the 10,000 things that happen
a tear in the room of a lifetime
driven by longing
driven by night
driven through a slate-lined soul
fragile and layered—
it hangs in the air, that tear
opening a desert chasm
of scattered skeletons where
skulls pop up like boulders
casting a pall of horror and grace
over what we become
a fitting mix to dis-repair
all that we witness,
again and again,
wondering why no one
does anything
finally, we disintegrate to sand
Brenda Warren 2013
Visit The Sunday Whirl
Process notes: After posting the wordle words on Facebook, I sat down to watch “Attack on Darfur” on Netflix. In the first scene, journalists are talking together. They all start to say something, but don’t finish their sentences. It is unsettling because it is unspeakable. I started writing the piece based on that idea, and it came quickly. The skeletons show up because they showed up in the movie while I was writing. It felt personal, like running thoughts, so I didn’t capitalize or offer much punctuation.
undercaws 
Fabulous write here – grabs the very essence of the subject totally!
LikeLike
So glad you included your process notes. This is a powerful write, an indictment of sorts, of those of us who watch and do nothing.
LikeLike
I found the repetition of ‘driven’ very effective in this very strong poem.
LikeLike
“Some thoughts are afraid to be finished.” Gave me pause. I will sit and think on this awhile. I really like it.
LikeLike
Oh Brenda … I attended a ceremony that marks world-wide genocides today (it’s held at a dry-creek genocide garden made of stones that mark various places and peoples, and the ceremony has been taking place annually, for five years) How I would have loved to read this poem there…it’s marvellous; well penned.
LikeLike
It sounds like a special event, Sharon. I like the idea of stones used to mark important ideas/events/feelings. Thank you for sharing, and for your support.
LikeLike
sentences,choices-never researched of what life could be if…, tears of unhappiness, then these skeletons and sculls blocked the life , and we complaining, looking who blame for such existence, …sad, but hopefully there an exit if one revisit the life, and let go to what not working anymore…excellent poem
LikeLike
This is powerful but the fourth verse is dynamite! We have only to stop ‘wondering why no one does anything’ and become the change we want to see, then perhaps your bleak poem would demand another, less painful verse! Again, I learned much from reading your process notes. Thank you for sharing and for your wonderful work on Sunday Whirl each week!
LikeLike
I’m delighted to see that 10,000 appeared in your work too. (I wrote mine long before reading yours, so “something” was going on between us!)
LikeLike
I thought so, too. When I read yours, it made me smile. I love those connections.
LikeLike
Brenda, I have seen that movie. I love how you are able to convey such depth with the words. Thanks for writing this.
Pamela
LikeLike
A very long time ago, when I was first learning to write poetry, one of my teachers said to be careful not to use trite or overused words (such as tears). I look at your poem and say to that teacher, “Bah, on your silly rules.” Without that single tear, this poem would never reach in and touch so deeply the core sense of our humanity. Thank you Brenda, for once again showing me that old things may be made fresh and new, and filled with meaning, if we are following our own inner leadings. This is better than good writing,
Elizabeth
LikeLike
Thank you for shining your light on my work, Elizabeth. I appreciate your constancy in my writing life.
LikeLike
Sadly, there does indeed come a point where the weight of so much talking and not doing overwhelms, and action becomes nearly impossible. Disintegration into sand, indeed.
LikeLike
slate-lined soul! brill. And the image of the skeletons like boulders, the skulls. Very visual and visceral.
LikeLike
Unfinished sentences that trail into nothingness. And then the skeletons add up to a bleakness that’s too real.
LikeLike
In our area there is a small refugee communities from people (several different countries) fleeing from such horrors. And yet one would like to think there is some hope when recalling that every hair on every head is counted by the Creator. As people though we need to do more to accept and tollerate difference without imposing the restrictions that quite frankly ‘kill’ our humanity.
Thanks for your visit…I think it was the T’s and D’s …I did have fun writing this morning. Thanks for allowing your word lists to be incorporated into my fantasy.
LikeLike
It’s always fun to play with sounds in our work. I’m glad you are in the mix.
LikeLike
Not a terribly optimistic outlook! THink I’ll go and curl up in bed…
LikeLike
Yes, this one is so sad. Yet so beautiful! Wonderful images.
LikeLike
Thank you, Annell.
LikeLike
I’ll have to try to count those grains of sand… I may be some time…
LikeLike
a lifelong endeavor, no doubt…
LikeLike
Sad!! The population reeling under the ongoing conflict there and millions are displaced into camps within their own country!! Your words wonderfully describe the agony of Sudan!!
“it hangs in the air, that tear” yes it does!!
LikeLike
Thank you for your support, Nanka. It is sad how much goes unnoticed in the day to day life of so many people, how much people choose to ignore.
LikeLike