If emptiness,
then what?
No footprints
for the waves to play with,
no castles to scoop.
What dies
with the people?
What is left?
Who will walk in the rain,
run from the thunder,
who will there be
to ask,
to answer,
to learn,
to teach,
to wonder at the horizon,
dreaming other castles
on a blue swing?
More thanks to photographer S.W. Berg.
I think, dear reader, we turn to our blogs for gentleness and respite. We want something to smile about and hope about. Sometimes, however, we have to write about what is. To this writer, in this country, it’s grief and a near-despair.
Oddments 
March 29, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Not wanting to run and hide, but sometimes any form of escapism is just what I need. The poem and photo…sad, true and sweet.
March 29, 2023 at 2:11 pm
I tried hard to write something distracting, but I couldn’t. Thanks for your words, Lois.
March 29, 2023 at 2:42 pm
I hear you Maureen. The carefree days of our youth have passed and this world seems to be falling apart faster than we are!
So we need to resort to our memories of happier times when our biggest worry was if mom was going to buy us a new dress for the school dance.
Spring is moving in Maureen. A bit slow, but moving. You would think aging would give us more patience!
Keep dreaming of those castles!
Ginger
March 29, 2023 at 2:58 pm
Patience is a tricky thing, isn’t it? Some things we should be patient for, but with other things patience might be an obstacle. Good thing to think about. Thanks, Ginger!
March 29, 2023 at 4:05 pm
United States of Armor-ica. In weapons we trust. There’s every reason for despair.
March 29, 2023 at 5:11 pm
I wish you were wrong.
March 30, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Me, too. And you’re right– we come to our WP readers and ‘blogs to find the better things in people, and to give them as we can.
March 30, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Well said.
March 29, 2023 at 8:48 pm
I normally attempt to stay out of politics, but these school shootings are just too much for anyone to ignore. I understand our forefathers intended us to be able to hunt for food and protect our property. No one can convince me that the average person needs these assault type weapons for anything except mass casualties. I understand skilled military forces using them to protect our country, but why in heaven’s name do we keep selling them to everyone. Also, with all our technology can anyone tell me why we can’t keep a national database that would light up when someone buys seven of them. I know, I’m preaching to the choir, but it is so disheartening to even think about the families who sent their children off to get an education so they can be productive and happy adults only to have them killed at age 9. I’m not sure why we still have tourists coming here, it’s like Dodge City all over the country, and there’s no Matt Dillon anywhere.
March 29, 2023 at 9:38 pm
Thank you! You certainly speak for me. I understand trying to stay out of politics, and most of us try to do that with our blogs, and I debated about writing my feelings, but I think this kind of thing transcends politics. Everything you say and ask is what I am saying and asking. I wonder what those forefathers would say if they could see our bloody schools.
March 30, 2023 at 1:24 am
I saw our flag at half staff again today and I just sighed as I walked. I almost didn’t want to visit the memorial and take a picture. When I’m there, I like to think of my father and my father-in-law. I wonder what they would think of this country they fought for. Asking these questions, making us think, it’s a good thing, Maureen. I enjoyed this poem.
March 30, 2023 at 8:35 am
I too saw the grieving flag yesterday. It’s hard to imagine that those like your father and father-in-law, who fought for its ideals, could understand this at all. Yes, we have to ask the questions. Thanks, Dan.
April 4, 2023 at 4:52 pm
So tragic and completely inexplicable.
April 4, 2023 at 8:54 pm
Absolutely. There is no explaining.