Earthquake in Haiti
Now I lay me down in the gutter
I pray the Lord my soul to take
hope for help is slim or none
I may well die before I wake
When millions cry sweet Jesus
come and lay one lowly
drop of water on my lips!
who am I to plead for me
I am the blessed one, I know
I am not entombed
the souls of my dear city pray
that help is coming soon.
With joy for air I lay me down
here in this dusty gutter
and pray for others who survived
only to mercilessly suffer
The outstretched arms are busy
helping those who might still live
in the rubble in my broken city
for them I beg you: Give!
*******************
The top two photos here were taken by John McHoul at the Heartline medical clinic, a kind outpost of aid in a sea of suffering people. The bottom one was taken by Enoch at the Real Hope for Haiti rescue center. You can see my links to them at the top of my blog on the left, so you can read about their day, two weeks after the earthquake. The crisis there continues unabated, even if it has dropped off the top of the news media.
16 comments:
Chris...This Haitian disaster has far from fallen off the radar. There is very real obstacles to getting food and water, shelter and medical care to them who need it most. It is not wise to simply carpet bomb with aid the place like the airlifts of those when Stalingrad and Berlin were besieged. It may in fact increase the problems with unnecessary violence as people hoard.
There is no functioning infrastructure or government to coordinate distribution and that is the problem. the arm is outstretched but it can only reach so far so fast and if more die it is simply tragedy compounded but the world is doing all it can at the moment. No one has forgotten and only the most callous among us are speaking out against the need.
Such sad poetry, Chris...mourning for Haiti. I am still thinking of this country though I did get out to hear good music and piano with my friend, Silvia, tonight for awhile. A nurse friend in the Boston area leaves for two weeks to help in Haiti, an incredible forensic nurse but also a nurse practitioner in women's health. I wish I could go myself.
What are we doing up so late at night???
It's horrifying. Thanks for not letting people forget.
The news coverage has really died down, people have forgotten already. Like the big tsunami disaster, most people don't remember when it even happened.
Secretia
um...i felt that one. tears.
This is beautifully, heartbreakingly beautifully done, Chris. (Do you know, when I typed your name just now, I typed a "t" at the end? Then I thought, "How appropriate," for you are doing the work of Christ with these postings. These people are crying for mercy, and you are delivering that to them.
I have given, but it is not enough. I have so much.
Thank you EO for sharing. One of our missionaries returned from Haiti the other day. At the time of the quake he was next door to the hotel Montana which he had a room at. But, our office was next door and that is where he was. Praise God!
Thank you for this post and constant reminder. Blessings.
You have been awarded another meaningless internet award. Check
HERE.
Thank you for showing me the reality with faces and names. I won't forget.
Namaste
your poem.... a prayer from your heart.
I don't know if it is true, but I hear reports of slow rebuilding. The resilience of the human spirit is beautiful.
How heart breaking the stories are in Haiti! Tragic and soooo sad, my heart breaks for them and their suffering.
Thank you for posting this poem.
I know what lies below those bandages, and the work behind them!
Thank you Chris for your work for them.
I think that it may be not at the forefront of the media, but it is in the forefront of many other minds. Thanks Chris for the photos and the poetry.
thanks for raising awareness about haiti in this post. stopping by from Soul Aperture. one love.
That is just beautiful. Thanks for the links at the top...we have haven't forgotten them or stopped praying. I am so inspired by the posts everyday and the true heros working behind the scenes.
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