Paris
My Poem “The Devastation of Notre Dame”
Notre Dame is on fire.
Awestruck onlookers
are watching and witnessing
the horrifying destruction
of a French landmark
in the heart of Paris –
a place well-known,
iconic, holy, and meaningful
to the French people,
and to those who have visited
the beautiful City of Love –
as flames from within
the 850-year-old cathedral
rise and cause irreparable damage
to a French monument
that has always meant so much
to all who have gazed upon its breathtaking
gargoyle-adorned towers
and medieval architecture.
There are no words to describe
the images that the whole world
are seeing being displayed on T.V.
and being shared on social media,
and not even by those people
who are so close that they
can feel the heat
that is being emanated
from the burning building
from the other side of the River Seine
in silence, in shock, in disbelief
at what they are witnessing.
There are no words to describe
what has been lost…
there are no words to describe
the beautiful and unique
stained-glass artwork
that has been destroyed…
there are no words to describe
what scars will be felt
by those seeing such
a heartbreaking sight.
My heart goes out to those
who feel such a profound connection
to this well-known place of worship –
to all the residents of
and the visitors to
this historic and spiritual place
at the heart of the city of Paris,
as well the country of France itself –
all having to watch the dark silhouette
against the raging flames devastating
the iconic cathedral of Notra Dame.
My Poem ‘Mourning in Paris’
It’s morning in Paris;
people from all over the world
are in mourning;
the city of love
has a shadow hanging over it;
the free world was rocked during the night
by the actions of the agents of darkness;
and when I close my eyes now,
I listen and I can hear
the sound of Paris’ calling.
There is a golden silence;
the smell of burning
still lingers in the air;
kisses are still being shared
on the bridge of sighs;
people are praying for peace
while standing at the feet of the Eiffel Tower;
all eyes are looking for the answer
to the question: why?
eyes still sting with pain
at the thought of all the innocent people
who last night lost their lives.
All violence is needless;
every loss of life is an open-wound;
taking the life of another makes no sense;
the day when all of humanity
wakes up to the truth
that all life is sacred
is long over-due and cannot come too soon.
Fear can be paralyzing;
hope is a way and the road to healing;
the only answer to anger and hate
is to carry on shining
like a search-light in the dark
and be a constant beacon of peace;
standing together in solidarity
and extending a hand to those who are in need
is the only way to accept
and to get past a tragedy –
and that is why it is important
in the morning to remember
those who we have lost…
and this morning,
I am in mourning
and I stand shoulder to shoulder
and hopeful for peace
for the people of the city of Paris.
markthepoet.me 