Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Better said




Portia said...
Potent montage, spd and a troubling one, too. * I don't know...maybe I'm wired differently but I believe the world is a lot less dark and cynical place than you paint it. Once you peel back the layer of politics and pundits and stand in the "light," you may find that we do care... sometimes with our pocketbooks, sometimes with our hands, sometimes with our prayers. From the clothes collection held in parking lots, to the volunteers hitchhiking to the Gulf Coast, to the three Gulf families my firm has adopted, to the Kids for Katrina drive underway, to the 90 countries who have offered aid (even $25,000 from Sri Lanka, God Bless it), we do care a lot, and when our neighbors are in trouble, we rise up. "My City" learned that first hand--and in spades--after 9/11. I refuse to believe the same compassion does not exist today...or tomorrow. This song has been playing in my head for days as its brilliant and painful words take on new meaning for another city in ruins. With these hands....

City of Ruins
There is a blood red circle
On the cold dark ground
And the rain is falling down
The church door's thrown open
I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone
My city of ruins
My city of ruins
Now the sweet bells of mercy
Drift through the evening trees
Young men on the corner
Like scattered leaves,
The boarded up windows,
The empty streets
While my brother's down on his knees
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!

Now's there's tears on the pillow
Darlin' where we slept
And you took my heart when you left
Without your sweet kiss
My soul is lost, my friend
Tell me how do I begin again?
My city's in ruins
My city's in ruins
Now with these handsI
pray lordWith these hands
For the strength lord
With these hands
For the faith lord
With these hands
I pray lord
With these hands
For the strength lord
With these hands
For the faith lord
With these hands

Come on
Come on
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
1:13 PM

***
* Portia is referring a montage I put up earlier, and have since deleted.
It just wasn't helpful.
Thanks, old friend, for bringing me to my senses.

3 comments:

spd rdr said...

I am very lucky to have such good friends. Thanks for keeping me in your crosshairs.

portia said...

Likewise.

Thanks Cass. You can be sure I won't miss an opportunity to remind him of that next time he turns a deaf ear to my unsolicited counsel. Let the countdown begin:)

And spd, I hope you didn't discard all the photos. I'm particularly fond of the last one...it's a keeper.

spd rdr said...

All gone. But I'll send you a copy.