we watched on screens with bated breath

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We watched on screens with bated breath,

As crowds tore forwards, flocks of birds

With angry wings that beat at doors

Barricaded in the hope that it will stop

A flood of hate, of death, of undecided fight.

We’ve seen it many times before, stopped

Before a TV screen in shopping malls

And office buildings all across the land.

We hold our breath in hope that scenes

Are figments of imagination,

Spooling out like movie reels,

But deep down in our darkest souls

We know the world will crumble at our hands.

We’ve screwed it up, and all for what?

A broken system, cracked and pierced,

Letting evil seep through damaged skin.

Well, that was quite the week, wasn’t it? We’ve come through one whole week of 2021 and it’s been a bit of a shit show. Here in the UK we’ve gone into full lockdown and then I turn on the news this morning and see the events that unfolded in the US.

I remember when I was at college and the planes hit the Twin Towers. I walked past the canteen and about a hundred students were gathered around the TV trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening. I got home and watched for hours, quite literally holding my breath.

Now, it feels like those moments happen too many times for comfort. They may not be as world changing as 9/11 but they do still make us stop in our tracks and wonder if we are watching something that is fictional.

Unfortunately, these things are always real and this week has brought a few of those moments. I am becoming desensitized to it, as I am sure, most people are. Let’s just hope that all of this trouble and change will lead to something good. Let’s hope…..

Much Love

Rachel xx

7 thoughts on “we watched on screens with bated breath

  1. Margot Kinberg

    That’s the thing. These things are real, even though when we’re watching they play out, it seems completely surreal. Let’s hope 2021 goes on better than it’s started…

  2. katiemiafrederick

    Lightning

    First

    Then

    Thunder

    Lifting Veils

    oF iGNoRANCE

    Indeed In

    Front of

    The Whole

    World to

    See Roach

    Motel Released in

    Broad Daylight

    For All Globe

    To Breathe

    Finally

    Perhaps

    For Ignorance

    To Return

    Its

    DarK To NiGHT

    As Truth

    In LiGHT

    Battles

    Back In
    2020 Day Vision

    Of One
    DarK Week
    In 2021 Now Completing💫

  3. clcouch123

    Our nations are not in good places. Difficult days to come, I imagine. Restraint would help all the awful, exaggerated, unreal-like behaviors we see acted out. Restraint as in the theme of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, which I used to teach in school. Admittedly, it’s a challenging lesson. I think it was restraint that helped bring back the USA Congress to convene and do the correct thing.

    I hope you are and remain safe and well.

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