Stuff happens! Shit happens! get over it! Move on!
“But how?” Asks the nurse who repeatedly braves a smile to bid adieu to her patients. Patients, who longed futilely for their loved ones. Loved ones, who lean as hard against the impenetrable glass doors as possible, frequently leaving teardrop smudges and sweaty handprints. Handprints, that will be left on soon to be received death certificates. Death certificates, that will perfunctorily add to the statistics of the pandemic.
“But how?” Asks the black mom who goes over all the safety rules with her young boy, knowing full well that none of them will provide immunity in the savagely color-corrupted world. The world, where George Floyd and Jacob Blake are mere TRP grabs and hashtags. Hashtags, that have failed to stay woke in taking forward “I have a dream” revolution. “I have a dream” era, which has been rendered hollow and nugatory, one killing at a time.
“But how?” Asks the woman who keeps rubbing his stink off her skin. A stink, that’s haunted her spirits to immobility. An immobility, fiercer than gravity which she grapples with to stand up to the world. A world, so warped that it chastises her for “proof” of her wounds. Proof, that is written all over her chagrined convulsing body.
“But how?” Asks the parent who has had to stand at the altar and talk about their child in memories. Memories, that commenced with little arms wrapped around parents’ bodies and ceased with parents’ arms around little bodies with bullet holes and shrapnel. Bullets, that roam free, unaccountable, piercing countless hearts, minds, and souls. Souls, that ask for more than a “sorry”.
But sure, let us move on! Let us get over it! Because stuff happens! Shit happens!
Written for V.J.’s Writing prompt.
VJ’s Weekly Challenge #111: stuff happens
This is such a poignant write! Powerful words that cut to core of life’s injustice. How indeed?
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Thanks for the prompt! Acted as catalyst for these words to come out.
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Very heartfelt, Pallavi ❤ It is so easy for the privileged few to dismiss our pain, loss, and grief.
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The “get over it” attitude needs to be replaced by “fix it” so that it doesn’t happen again.
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“But How?”…. does injustice keep growing…. maybe,… because personal greed keeps growing in this overwhelming material world….
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Truly it’s so easy to say move on for so many of us. While the messaging may be right, the words are hollow if we don’t reach out to help someone truly move on. Saying sorry is sympathy and fixing the wrong is empathy. The world needs more empathy!
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Definitely so Pallavi
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A very powerful and touchy post, Pallavi. It penetrates deep into the pains of life and the ‘but how’ aptly brings out the dilemma faced and how to move on. Well expressed 👍
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Thanks Deepika. It was a manifestation of things going on around us.
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Deep pain and frustrations coming in here. But how, a question for which only we need to find answers to move on. Poignant write Pallavi.
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Thanks R, for reading and commenting. Indeed it needs to be answered for so many souls.
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Pallavi, well done. You captured the pain. I also liked your mocking the reaction of others at the bottom to move on, as they do not want to talk about uncomfortable things. I hear people say sports stars’ should not share their concerns as it takes away from the fans enjoyment of the game. The fact that Colin Kaepernick is vilified for respectfully kneeling along with a war veteran fellow player to share his concerns. Yet, it was his right and he is right in his message. Now, the NFL has caught up with other sports’ leagues in supporting the right to protest.
I celebrate sports stars who are protesting just as I respect the vast numbers of peaceful protestors. And, we should not forget back in the late 1960’s the protests of Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown and Bill Russell, some of the best talents in their sports (the LeBron James of their time) or the boycott by many Black atheletes of the 1968 Olympics where the two American races raised a black fist at the anthem podium.
I am sorry for the soap box, but we need more stories like yours told. Keith
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I was moved by these powerful examples of painful events in people’s lives. Why do bad things happen to good people…
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This makes me tearful, friend. Beautifully written ❤ . It's easier said than done, sometimes. I am a BIG believer that feeling your feelings is the path to healing. Even it's a struggle at first.
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You couldnt be more spot on and oh how I love this..feeling your feelings!
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Such a powerful well written piece. Thank you for writing this even though I wish it was not true.
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