—–

As a mournful Christmas continued to seep into a mellow New Year,

I had chanced a visit to the Taj and Leopold’s for the first time since the attacks.

—–

As we had all bore witness that night to this shift from Guerrilla to Grand-Theft Auto Warfare,

I felt compelled to visit these old friends before the year ended.

—–

With the entire weight of the “State of the West” pressing down upon my chest…

While I could no longer see the world through the focus of my own eyes…

It was clear this year needed an ending I thought, as I entered the lobby of this fallen Five-Star.

—–

—–

Stepping through the gracious doors into the spacious lobby of a home away from home that is now so eerily familiar…

The air dripped ripe with all of the contrasts, constraints, and confusion of a wake.

—–

It took so much courage to smile while breathing through tears…

As I stood there amongst the ghosts of our brutally hunted and haunted humanity.

—–

—–

Shifting through the lobby past the cozy seats, behind the all embracing Christmas tree,

There lies this courtyard without any justice, a tribute to a lost reality.

——

And at it’s center stands a blurry waterfall of names who came to their grave end,

Silently framing the blank page of hope, and all the choices of a waiting pen…

—–

This book of condolences unfolded for those who died but will live on as legend…

And for those who live on, and weep for this present.

—–

 

—–

“Here is to a light that can never go out…”

I wrote, with the all confidence of a child stroking his grieving mothers hand.

Somehow knowing that whatever she lost is something he can never truly understand.

—–

And when I see a manager of the hotel I tell her “Thanks for having the courage to see this thing through…”

She smiled a bit glassy-eyed, and said “Sir, we are here because of you.”

—–

Then as I think about all of the lives that were taken I get so angry…

Justice, Retribution, War, and Revenge wash over me!

—–

My blood starts to boil with all of the ingredients of hate,

A cascading and deranged need to see them all burned at the stake!

—–

—–

But then in a moment my hate subsides…

As I watch a group of children deprived of the gift of light arrive…

—–

—–

And when they surround the piano and started to sing so sweetly…

It filled my heart with such a joy that only the blind could make us see…

—–

“There will be no justice in a relentless quest for revenge…

Peace only lives in the light of the love that we send.”

—–

Then we went to Leopold’s, sat under a bullet hole, and got drunk as sin…

It seemed clear if we didn’t, the terrorists would win :)

 

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