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The Twelve Angels of Beirut

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Let us Pray

Let us bow our heads
Let us shed our tears
In memory
For Nov 12, 2015
For all that has past
Do we not now share a bond
Remember those who came in peace
So that you may live today
To cast your doubts
They too, need your hearts
Bear no guilt
For we are all humans
With human fragility
Let us as one
Both remember and weep
Shed tears and soul to keep
For the lover lost
The child departed
We light candles
For all of you
Both near and far
Beirut loves you one and all

The cedars! :)

Surviving it all, we grasp hope from the past

I will provide some footnotes later, for now, some of these photos have been taken by me.

The Twelve Angels of Beirut

They huddle together in the heavens
Muttering amongst themselves
Confused as any human down below

We bestow upon them the ancient teachings
Not once, not twice, variations to please all walks of life
Yes thrice

They may choose the ancient books they follow
They may keep the traditions yet must adapt to modern intellect
Such literate men who seem not to read

Who can cast his eyes at his child?
Feeling nothing but love and endearment?
Who pray tell us is displeased to arrive at his home at dusk?

Angels we twelve have nourished
We have showed you both love, morality and compassion
Yet ye who divides faith, chooses battle

You so easily prefer to drink blood
Rather than bestow a red rose upon breast
Olive trees so ripe have no meaning at all for you

Like a tree that reaches the sky
All things change, as evolution’s duty dictates
Yet you fight to keep perceptions frozen in time

You cover a woman’s face
When its you who should hide in shame
Modesty is how we bestow good deeds to strangers

It is how we look at our hearts in the mirror
A woman’s beauty should shine to the heavens
Competing only with a mans debonair style of chivalry

Honor you mother and father
Honor your tribe
Not with traditions and rented cloth

Honor with your whole heart
Feed the poor and kiss your enemy on both cheeks
The skies will become your friend

We sit here waiting in torment and anguish
Crying to the heavens that surround us
We gave you hearts and minds

You return us blood and bombs
We are ashamed of our duties
For we have obviously failed you

Forgive us, you tribes of the three branches
We are the twelve angels of Beirut
Whose tears give you your sea

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Cherl Dunn

Date: 11/28/2015 5:19:00 PM

Dear Arthur Came back for another read on this one scense now I've had some sleep, at to work during the black friday madness, I hope next year I won't have to, but it this is a powerful write my friend great job it's emotional and it tugs at the human heart my dear friend, love the pictures you choose also, take care, cheri

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/28/2015 5:55:00 PM

Thank you so much Cherl, much appreciated! hugs!

Cecilia Macfarlane

Date: 11/26/2015 5:45:00 PM

Wow Arthur.... an amazing heartfelt write that touches the heart and soul of all that read. #7 Hugs

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/28/2015 5:55:00 PM

Very kind of you Cecilia, thanks so much!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/24/2015 10:27:00 AM

OMG, this is SO GOOD, Arthur. You are brilliant at both serious AND humorous verse. well, gotta be out the door soon for my trip to Iowa. That is why you may not see me around. Just love this!!

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/28/2015 5:54:00 PM

Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving Andrea, safe trip!

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 11/22/2015 9:33:00 AM

If I only read this one poem today it would have been worth while coming here today. This is profoundly moving. Truly one of your best Arthur.

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/28/2015 5:53:00 PM

Well Richard, I actually thought so too! Thank you so much!

Tim Smith

Date: 11/21/2015 10:17:00 PM

So powerful my friend. It is a travesty that we have so many new angels as of late.

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/28/2015 5:52:00 PM

Yes so true Tim, thanks!

Kp Nunez

Date: 11/21/2015 5:27:00 PM

Genuine love and compassion shines through this awesome write, Arthur. hugs!

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/28/2015 5:52:00 PM

Thank you so much Kim, Hugs right back!

Nette Onclaud

Date: 11/21/2015 10:23:00 AM

peace be with us all; no more hatred but only love!... lovely, arthur..huggs

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/21/2015 11:06:00 AM

Thank you Nette, very wise words indeed! Hugs

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 11/21/2015 1:08:00 AM

Now its you who misted my eyes...'Honour with your whole heart/ Feed the poor and kiss your enemy on both cheeks' - So deep. 'We gave you hearts and minds/ you return us blood and bombs ' , Honour your tribe not with traditions and rented cloth ' ,' Olive trees so ripe have no meaning at all for you '... Oh what days of pain Arthur..Yes how many tears ..a sea of tears..If only we could all have a branch of that one huge olive tree.. A fave .

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/21/2015 11:05:00 AM

Charmaine, these comments you leave to me are so so so sweet, I really appreciate them, warm my heart! hugs

Eve Roper

Date: 11/20/2015 10:32:00 PM

A wonderful tribute to so many that our being pursicute. So much violance so much hatred :"( .

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/21/2015 11:04:00 AM

Yes, is sad, yet its also heartwarming to see that the majority of people who despite all thats going on have love in their hearts and not hate.

Cherl Dunn

Date: 11/20/2015 9:06:00 PM

Dear Arthur A seven for brilliance in tribute, my friend, and yes Kathy's tears is about a real woman a good friend of mine, thank you dearest friend for your prayers, I've got to get up early but wanted to say thanks to you take care, always yours cheri

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/21/2015 11:02:00 AM

Thank you so much Cherl!!!

Robert Lindley

Date: 11/20/2015 6:04:00 PM

Heartfelt and brilliant write my friend.Very sad that the ones so filed with pure hate will look at this poem and think only of ending your life too! Once that deep into hatred there seems to be no turning back. A7...

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/20/2015 10:57:00 PM

thank you Robert, there is always the seed of love that can grow :)

Jan Allison

Date: 11/20/2015 1:15:00 PM

Tears run down my cheeks as I write - thank you for penning this Arthur - we seem to be focusing on Paris yet other area's of the world are also suffering such atrocities yet the coverage is not so widespread - I do hope you get many more reads and comments my friend:-) hugs jan xx 7

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/20/2015 10:55:00 PM

Thank you Jan hugs!

Eileen Manassian

Date: 11/20/2015 9:16:00 AM

Oh Arthur.....You are amazing. What depth in this write. Yes, we are all His children. Why be intolerant and hateful? I'm so sorry I didn't visit sooner. I've been so tired. Had a long long sleep. Bless you. Do not be discouraged by those reading more your Paris write than this, my dear. It is only...expected. Sending you, dear one, Hugs

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/20/2015 1:04:00 PM

If I made you smile thats enough for me! I actually did think this was a better poem! :)

Dr. Upma A. Sharma

Date: 11/20/2015 3:31:00 AM

Exquisite write Arthur...I have missed reading ur work for quite sometime !!

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/20/2015 1:03:00 PM

Thank you Dr Upma Sharma! You wont believe this, and I have no idea why, but I thought of you when I wrote this thinking you would like it! I have no idea why, was just a random thought popped into my head!

Aurore Severo

Date: 11/20/2015 1:16:00 AM

Breathtaking, I have seen this on the news. xoxo

Arthur Vaso
Date: 11/20/2015 1:01:00 PM

Thank you Aurore! hugs

Arthur Vaso

Date: 11/20/2015 12:45:00 AM

Always one in the crowd