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April 11, 2008

a river runs through it

CREEK
By Laurie Feldman

Transfixed,
I stood on your bank
Watching dark water
Rush by.

Lazy,
Swimming over deep water
Between volcanic boulders,
falling in love.

Soaking,
seeking relief
my expectant body
floats on your currents.

Watching,
him splash and dive
Learning to swim
In your shallows.

Walking,
Along your green banks
Hoping for insight
Moving forward.

Sitting,
In meditation with
Aching feet submerged,
Growing older.

Gone,
My ashes scattered
on your gentle tide
as you flow on.

April 01, 2008

new orleans

Over spring break I traveled to Louisiana with my family. While we were there we visited New Orleans and took some time to walk around the lower Ninth Ward where so much devastation occurred 2 ½ years ago due to Hurricane Katrina. Here are some of the pictures I took:

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These are the flags that were flying on the day I was there. Tattered but still proud.

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This wreck of a house is STILL THERE after 2 1/2 years. Is this Iraq or America?

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One picture is worth a thousand words. I wonder if the walls in this doghouse are emitting toxic formaldehyde fumes?

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It was surprising how little anger I was exposed to while I was there. This sign seemed to distill some of what must be bubbling under the surface in this land of southern hospitality.

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Notice the letters 'TFW' encircled on the front of this house. Thats stands for "Toxic Flood Waste." This is someone's home, still waiting for help.

How many billions have we spent to blow up someone else's country while allowing our own citizens' homes to languish, unrepaired and moldering into irreparable? The injustice is shocking to view personally and yet, as a country, we have seemingly mostly forgotten.