"Because", a poem by Rose Flint. After Manchester.
A terrible day for Manchester. We are preparing for our event in Frome on Thursday, with our great friends Flatpack Democracy and Campfire Convention - and one of the Frome poets we're working with, Rose Flint, is scheduled to deliver this on the night. In a spirit of healing and love, it seemed appropriate to post it today. (Here is a link if you are in the Manchester area and want to help authorities respond to last night's events).
Love beats hate, ultimately, always.
* * *
BECAUSE
Rose Flint
Because the world is being broken into allotments of dollars and loss
We will plant our fruit trees and lilies in the cracks between paving stones.
Because the world is rinsed scarlet with blood we will take our own reds of passion and heart
and place them in hearths and love’s look, knowing their potential for healing fire.
Because the world’s spirit is being torn we will mend our own webs of connection,
that fine lace, stretching between us, connecting us into all life in every direction.
Because the sky is being clouded over with smoke and dirt and armored stars
we will stand in the dark of mountains, in backstreet alleyways
and in deserts to call out the old names of the starry ones,
The sky dancers: Astarte, Arianrhod, Venus, Aditi, our eyes shining,
Our eyes shining with hope.