Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Lend A Hand

http://www.biggerpictureblogs.com/ 

Can you lend a hand,
can you understand,
the sorrow ,
the devastation,
in Joplin.
Lives lost ,
souls wounded.
The storm came with a fury ,
dark and howling.
Unforgiving it wiped away
homes,
memories,
mementos treasured,
now gone.
Lives that forever will remain silent,
conversations around the kitchen table muted ,
baby albums lost in debris.
Look outside yourself today ,
embrace someone else.
Hope remains,
can you lend a hand,
can you understand,
the sadness in Joplin.

My friend, Alita is asking for help from our blogger community. I provide her link for anyone that wishes to help in any way.



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47 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 24, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    I barely know what to think about all these storms. It's so devastating!! I really like that you say hope remains, because it must!

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  2. TALONMay 24, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    So much heartbreaking devastation. Thank you for the link, ayala, and the beautiful reminder of hope remaining.

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  3. Brian MillerMay 24, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    oh the baby albums clenched my heart...thank you for your beautiful heart...and the link...smiles.

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  4. Maude LynnMay 24, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    Such unimaginable devastation. Your words are beautiful.

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  5. BelindaMay 24, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    Beautiful, heartfelt sentiments. These disasters remind me of what a friend recently said about an open broken heart being the only way light can reach it.

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  6. ayalaMay 24, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    Caroline...it is so devastating.

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  7. ayalaMay 24, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    Thank you, Talon.

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  8. ayalaMay 24, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    Thank you, Brian.
    It's always so hard to imagine the loss....

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  9. ayalaMay 24, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    Thank you, Mama Zen.

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  10. ayalaMay 24, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    Belinda, those are beautiful words from your friend....

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  11. moondustwriterMay 24, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    any way she could give you a list and we could post up stuff. when people realize that it's easy stuff like diapers they may be nudged.

    If need be contact me
    Hugs

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  12. Cheryl SnellMay 24, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    In the midst of so much disaster, it's empathy and the willingness to help that makes us human.
    Your gracious words remind us of that.

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  13. KBMay 24, 2011 at 9:46 PM

    Thanks for sharing this.

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  14. AnonymousMay 24, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    Beautiful words....awful situation. Vb

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  15. LaurenMay 25, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    Thanks for the reminder to know others have lost so much and need our help.

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  16. AnonymousMay 25, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    beautiful, and absolutely timely.

    Thank you.

    Lady Nyo

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  17. ClaudiaMay 25, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    we should look outside ourselves far more often - thanks for writing for a good cause ayala

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  18. AnnaMay 25, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    Beautiful words, thank you for using your gift to point to the need.

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  19. StaciaMay 25, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    I just can't imagine it.

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  20. AnonymousMay 25, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    hi, ayala. it's me, fireblossom. blogger isn't letting me sign in.

    i try to imagine what the people affected by the tornado are going through, but i can't. i can't imagine what it must be like to suffer such sudden and profound losses. i'm so glad you wrote about it today.

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  21. AnonymousMay 25, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    My heart breaks for the people of Joplin. The image in your powerful poem of the baby albums is the perfect one to capture the nature of the tragedy in this mother's heart.

    Thanks too for spreading the word about the auction. It's a great thing Alita and the other ladies are doing.

    xo

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  22. KavitaMay 25, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    I think that sitting her, protected, safe, all we can do is feel guilty... and offer whatever it is that we possibly can!

    Your poem made me feel so lucky and blessed, Ayala... it was a very thought provoking and powerful poem!
    My love and best wishes are with the people of Joplin...

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  23. Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being RudriMay 25, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    The devastation is horrific. May we all collectively wish peace and strength for them.

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  24. AlitaMay 25, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    SPEECHLESS!!!!

    Your poem is not only so very touching, your generosity of spirit, courage, and love is beyond beyond.

    THANK YOU!!!

    Alita

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  25. Rachel HoytMay 25, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    Beautiful poem! So great of you to share the link. The devastation is amazing.

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  26. AnonymousMay 25, 2011 at 10:53 PM

    Baby albums lost - and babies too. Thanks for helping.

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  27. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    Thank you, Leslie. There is an auction going on to raise money for Joplin. You can check it out !

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  28. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:39 AM

    Thank you, Cheryl!

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  29. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:40 AM

    Thank you, KB !

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  30. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:41 AM

    Thank you, VB and indeed an awful situation.

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  31. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    Thank you, Lauren!

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  32. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    Thank you, Lady Nyo.

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  33. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Thank you, Claudia. I think so too.

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  34. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    Thank you, Anna.

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  35. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    Stacia, it is unimaginable.

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  36. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    Hi Fireblossom,
    Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it. So many lives destroyed it's so hard to imagine.

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  37. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    Thank you, Kristen. It's such an impossible tragedy for the people of Joplin. I hope that all of us can make a difference somehow.
    xo.

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  38. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Thank you, Kavita.
    We are blessed, aren't we?

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  39. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Thank you, Rudri.

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  40. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    Alita,
    I am so proud of all of you for doing this!!!!
    Happy to be a part of it.
    Thank you!!!!
    xo

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  41. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Thank you, Rachel.

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  42. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 7:01 AM

    Glynn, thank you.

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  43. ayalaMay 26, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    http://www.undercovermother.net/


    THIS IS THE LINK TO THE AUCTION THAT IS RAISING MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE OF JOPLIN. PLEASE SEE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT.
    THANK YOU.

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  44. Helena WhiteMay 26, 2011 at 10:43 PM

    Heartbreaking! It's unbelievable...Let's not complain about the rain or the price of gas for a few days. Let's just be thankful for our homes, family, health and our stores and so much that we take for granted every day. Lets get a huge prayer chain going for the people of Joplin, MO. Kansas, Minnesota,Oklahoma, and all weather related disasters, they are in our hearts and prayers!!!

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  45. AnonymousMay 28, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    Such a tragedy that has struck there...I was mortified when they announced that JHS boy the news had been tracking, Will Norton I believe it was, was declared among the dead today...Such horror. But a wonderful tribute, and effort on your part...

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  46. ayalaMay 28, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    Helena, let's pray for all those people and thank God for our blessings! Well said.

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  47. ayalaMay 28, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    Chris, devastating and sad....

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