In Time Of Eclipse
Down among the dead things
her candled light is dragged
but not blown out;
fire that serves
burns longer
kinder
than the eclipse's flare that puts out sight.
She's with the tilting stars, flying,
and our loss, and our gain;
a bird with purple down
flying, flying,
turning the eye from
this brief blacking of the sun
that belts the world.
for Heather Heyer
~August 2017
Heather Heyer was murdered in an act of domestic terrorism in Charlottesville, Va. on August 12, 2017. Her favorite color was purple.
Much of the middle United States will experience a rare total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21.
Much of the middle United States will experience a rare total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21.
Images: Heather in a glass heart, via pinterest
I'm glad she is flying with the stars
ReplyDeleteAmen. Your "kinder" put me in mind of the "kinder, gentler nation" comment and that of course connects in my mind to "making America great again" and that sort of hollow rhetoric-- like our president suddenly being a champion of art and history. Heather Heyer's gentle flame is so much stronger than all of that.
ReplyDelete@ Mark Kerstetter: I just wanted to say that I always enjoy your cogent remarks here at Joy's blog.
DeleteAnd I as well, Mark. Thank you.
DeleteYou already know that I love this. I wish I could have written something for her, but no need--you've said it beautifully and very movingly. I hope her family somehow sees this, Joy.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't pretend that this would ever come close to being something worthy of what they have gone through, and what they have lost, but the words just came and I hope I was not being presumptuous setting them down.
Deletegoosebumps.
ReplyDeletesuch a world. ~
Thanks, M. I hope things settle down for you soon.
DeleteOur eclipse, this moment; a woman dragged to death, a President blinded by looking at the sun. This is a wonderful bricolage of what passed --o we pray, briefly--the summer of 2018. Or is that moment grander, signifying our own passing, or the world's? Who knows, but you would have been wrong not to set them down.
ReplyDeleteYou expressed your sentiments beautifully.
ReplyDelete