Melting . . .

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The past two weeks have been grueling
Grueling for the entire world I think
When we should be grieving
Grieving for the tragedy in Japan
We look on horror stricken
Stricken by violence and more violence
Violence haunts our days and nights
Nights too short sleep is scarce
Scarce are the moments
Moments when the fear
Fear for the future does not creep
Creep unbidden into our thoughts
Thoughts distracted by constant news
News from the streets
The bloody streets
It is a sad world
Where there are humans
Who cannot speak their mind
Speak their mind freely
As we can here
In the land
Of Blog.
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I have been absent, more absent from the blogs, yours and mine, than at almost any point in the past two and one half years since starting this blogging adventure. I miss it and I miss you. These past two weeks, since the 11th of March, 2011, have been quite mad. Literally crazy. Events in my personal life mirrored events in the wider world. Sometimes one feels that one is out of control. Sometimes one feels overwhelmed and swamped by waves one did not see coming. One can only wait for the waves to wash over, and then pick up what is left, and move on, onward through the fog.
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In April 2007, nearly four years ago, I had the good fortune to be able to spend two weeks in Lebanon and Syria. On a cliff face just outside of Beirut, to the north along the sea, are carved a series of inscriptions that passing armies left over the centuries, going back to Roman times. This one seemed somehow pertinent in view of current events in the region. Nearly 100 years ago upheaval swept through the Middle East. More upheaval seems to be in the works now. Buckle your seatbelts, the ride may get bumpy.
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This is what I felt like these past two weeks. One just has to hold up sometimes. The alternatives are not always pretty. "Boy, you've got to carry that weight . . ."
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The news coming out of Syria these past couple of days is worrisome. Syria is a beautiful country, I hope the people there can find peaceful solutions to whatever it is that ails them at present. I took the below photograph from the old Arab fort overlooking the Roman ruins at Palmyra, Syria, an oasis town halfway from Damascus to Iraq. I had wanted to visit Palmyra ever since reading John Fowles' account of his own trip there which he relates in his novel titled "Daniel Martin". (a book which I would highly recommend to anybody, by the way)
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