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BREAKING NEWS

The death toll exceeded 100,000but never accounted for the seering pain tears of mothers - their agonizing refrain, kisses on blooded, mangled framesprayers - devout yet  helpless  

in Jesus name

why this tragedy to these folk again?

  We sit solemly, watchingthe evening news,CNN is more relevant, but BBC will doensconced in the comfortof the easy chairtragedy is out there -but Indifference lives here. "Pathos" a forgotten sentimentof the primordial brainliving with too muchbrings on the insane -we'd rather look awaythan be forced to feel         another's  pain... Bjr  14 January, '09 Schadenfreude - pleasure from another's pain - roughly translated... ask Nina!
— Bonitaj, Jan 14, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Tip of Southern Africa, ZAF

Favorite Poets: Too many to narrow down, but briefly :, AUDEN, T.S. ELIOT, DICKENSON, RILKE, THOREAU, RUMI ... the list is endless. Am inspired by many, especially those that live lives of "quiet desperation, and go to the grave with a song still in them" (THoreau)

More from this author

Critiques

ID

Ink Dragon

16 years 4 months ago

Dear Boni,

Is it really Schadenfreude, or is it more like indifference? That one glances at the screen, unseeing? Does one become numb when exposed to second-hand violence, or does one "feel" it? As far as I know, scientists (neurologists, psychologists etc.) are divided... Really good food for thought, this one. For structural consideration: please take a closer look at the transition from stanza 2 to stanza 3, I think there may be a way to do this more smoothly... Yours, ~Nina
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 4 months ago

I don’t know if we exactly

I don't know if we exactly derive *pleasure* (even when cars slow down near the scene of an accident) but that sometimes our lives are so boring, so interminably dull, that something like this keeps us from having to live our dull, boring lives. We feel something once again, if only for a little while. Yet it is human compassion that makes us human. Even animals seem to be gaining on that. If you watch animal planet (a tv show). And then sometimes it's just a slow news day. Great take on today's *breaking news*, Boni. with appreciation, Anna
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

THanks Anna

On reflection think you're right - after all what is stronger than love or hate? INDIFFERENCE! Appreciate your stopping by Boni
O

Orphani

16 years 4 months ago

We in the industrialised

We in the industrialised nations have grown complacent with abundance, but don't worry Bon, there will be time enough to cry. B
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

Thanks Barry -

and here's another thought : "WE MAKE THEM CRY WHO CARE FOR US, WE CRY FOR THOSE WHO NEVER CARE FOR US AND WE CARE FOR THOSE WHO WILL NEVER CRY FOR US" Interesting! Thanks for stopping by! Boni
M

magics02

16 years 4 months ago

Lovely poem

I give you more than any star can shine here on this write Boni...Breaking news sometimes you dont need to even watch it or hear it as you know it exists day to day.. this calamity like many in the past and many more to come in the future are unpreventable as mother earth is shifting..the earth..the waters..the universe......how could you prepare yourself or your loved ones from these devastations.. I know my answer.....I keep that one close to me... There is no preparation for these things in life...they happen and they do swallow us in sometimes. Just like the breaking news does if you so happen to have it on. This however is a harder one to swallow as we know of this country and all they have endured. Death does not pick color, race, ethnic background, gender, age, status, rich, poor, little, big....Death comes like a thief in the night sometimes not knowing when the second hand on the clock will stop....there is no choosing in death like there is in life..so that is why I live to live and live and live as if it is your last second hand on the clock...time..measured...time spent.. well lived and loved...for when death comes....time stands still and time continues on....I have been praying for these folks, mankind folks, human beings, loving people with hearts and souls and my heart goes out to all of them...now if only we could take away the pain of the ones left behind. Great poem Boni. Sincerely and with much love Ms Mona xoxoxoxox
Bonitaj

Bonitaj

16 years 4 months ago

Dear Mona!

THank you so much for that affirmation. I can't tell you how this blunting in life, by so much saturational exposure, concerns me. It is a natural phenomenon - and not one any one of us can be blamed for - but it's there! and we must FIGHT IT! CHeers Bonita
R

R.M.Shanmugam

16 years 4 months ago

“Pathos” a forgotten

“Pathos” a forgotten sentiment of the primordial brain living with too much brings on the insane - how fine the lines
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 4 months ago

Man tries but nature wins.

Man tries but nature wins. Ann. I wrote thinking of that short bit last week and here is a proof ! We have no gods, we have no myths or saviours that can do anything about this, natures unwitting harm is always ready to dash our beliefs and show its might. We are privileged just to have become what we are in this strange and puzzling place called earth, and do what we may, even on the grand scale that modern science affords us, we are helpless at tackling the inevitability of the nature of the universe. Sadly we sigh and weep, even pray, yet we will have no influence on this power, there are no means of changing the very nature of our planet, prone to disasters and catastrophes beyond our power to control. When it comes to science, it does in some small degree tell us of the possibilities of disaster and where they may or will strike, so the best way of avoiding them is to move elsewhere. A sad Amen. So terribly sad but an amen. Love Ann and to your tears dear Bonni.
M

magics02

16 years 4 months ago

Mother Nature

Yes Ann.. mother earth shifting plates, no one can prevent these avalanches that occur in this earthly life and that is why I say heed this day... as you open up your own front door your avalance could be there to greet you. We will forever have these happenings around this world as mother earth and mother nature is destined for happenings of this nature, be it so sad and so true, a part of life here on earth. Prayers for all who with pain today on Martin Luther King Day all over the world. Mona xoxoxo
L

lyz

16 years 4 months ago

no Pleasure

in seeing any tragedy. You have put your heart into this write and it is strong. It is hard to take in, all those lives lost. Thanks, Love Lyz, XX
kowque

kowque

16 years 4 months ago

looking away is easier

looking away is easier :-( the reality of such a staggering loss of life is too hard to bear.lets all just look away and die another die... koki