Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Our hearts must break

Today we remembered 
one hundred and fifty-six people 
who died in our city 
only since last June 
just because they 
had 
nowhere to go.

Our hearts 
should break.

There were honour songs and bagpipes, 
tears and hugs. 

Two hundred carnations 
found rest at the feet of 
the statue
across from City Hall,
a statue that reminds us 
that until all are cared for
we are not "whole."



Our hearts 
should break.

Painted lady butterflies 
were released 
in honour 
of one hundred and fifty-six lives 
cut short 
because of lack of "home" --
compassion,
family,
forgiveness,
kindness,
light,
love,
protection,
room,
safety,
shelter,
warmth, 
and everything else
that "home"
means.

Our hearts
should break.

The ones remembered were 
siblings, 
friends, 
children, 
parents, 
grandparents, 
relations, 
all 
genuinely beloved people. 

They are gone too soon.

Our hearts
should break.

What do their deaths mean to us?

What would their deaths mean to you
if they were your
siblings, 
friends, 
children, 
parents, 
grandparents, 
relations, 
all 
genuinely beloved people?
 
More compassion fatigue?

Or a deeper desire to work 
so that everyone
has 
somewhere to go?

We are all one family.

Our hearts
must break
and we 
must act.

Change must come.

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