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I Have Been To Places of Great Death

I have been to places of great death: walking the battlefield at Gettysburg, as a lusty young man of no firm belief who stepped between the great rocks of Devil's Den and felt his soul shudder as though he had been a soldier there, and died in fear a long, long time ago. I taught my tongue to the gentle Khmers as civil war raged and the killing fields were being sown-- I left before the heartless murdering began, the killing of over a million: teachers and students, doctors and peasants, the old, the young, each with a photo taken before dying, their images taped to classroom walls. And when I visited Hiroshima, now myself chastened by death's touch, and knowing my soul real, knowing of meaning absolute and of unseen forces working good or ill, as I stood at the first ground zero, I once again shuddered to feel the pull of madness (though I knew not if it was my own or some remains of that evil which brought the fire and brimstone of a world wide war...). But by then I knew I could pray, and so opened my desperate heart and sought His mercy. Suddenly I saw a sort of angel who took me from that place of insanity, healing me while we wandered by the beauty of the Inland Sea as my storm calmed and left me, never to return.... I have been to places of great death, and I have felt death's cold, careless hands. Yet now I know what death itself fears: the Light, the light eternal which carries souls beyond time itself, like the winds of a Love exceeding all understanding.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017




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Date: 4/17/2022 10:39:00 PM
"the winds of a Love exceeding all understanding" - Beautifully written. Congratulations!
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L. J. Carber
Date: 4/23/2022 6:55:00 AM
Sorry for my late reply--been away--but thanks so much!
Date: 4/17/2022 4:09:00 AM
Congrats on your win and thanks for participating :)
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L. J. Carber
Date: 4/17/2022 11:12:00 AM
Thank you!
Date: 1/7/2022 12:14:00 PM
A powerful statement and message, beautifully done L.J.
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L. J. Carber
Date: 1/7/2022 1:49:00 PM
Thank you, George, and may you have a healthy and most productive 2022!
Date: 1/2/2022 4:10:00 AM
Outstanding.
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L. J. Carber
Date: 1/2/2022 5:44:00 AM
Thank you Gary-- and have a healthy and most creative 2022 !
Date: 6/1/2021 4:50:00 AM
Congratulations LJ: I felt the heaviness of trying to comprehend the madness of war. Magnificent write. SuZ
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L. J. Carber
Date: 6/1/2021 7:41:00 AM
there can be no comprehension, really--thanks!
Date: 5/30/2021 2:38:00 PM
Back with congratulations on this remarkable poem LJ! So happy to see it on the winners list again. Blessings to you!
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L. J. Carber
Date: 6/1/2021 7:42:00 AM
Thanks Sam!
Date: 5/30/2021 12:26:00 PM
Death is not deathless or fearless. Congratulations!
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L. J. Carber
Date: 6/1/2021 7:42:00 AM
Thank you!
Date: 1/25/2021 11:19:00 AM
Back with congratulations LJ! So glad you brought back this powerfully written poem. I will never forget the devastation at the World Trade center but I agree with you about the power of Light and Love. All the best. Blessings of love and light to you!
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L. J. Carber
Date: 1/26/2021 11:20:00 AM
Thanks Sam--we really are an unique species, capable of both the worst cruelty or the deepest kindness. May you and yours have a blessed 2021.
Date: 1/24/2021 6:54:00 AM
SO POWERFUL! Many congrats on your fine win.e ~ Elaine
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L. J. Carber
Date: 1/24/2021 7:47:00 AM
Thank you Elaine, it's one of those poems I wish I didn't have to write.
Date: 3/11/2020 1:07:00 PM
So powerful LJ. I too have visited battlefields and felt overwhelmed by their enormity. Congratulations on your win.
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L. J. Carber
Date: 3/12/2020 8:00:00 AM
Thank you, Sam
Date: 9/24/2019 1:16:00 PM
LJ congratulations on your win in the contest with this wonderful write !
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L. J. Carber
Date: 12/22/2019 10:04:00 AM
Forgive me! Somehow I missed thanking you before--
Date: 9/24/2019 12:41:00 PM
- Congratulations on your great win, L.J. :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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L. J. Carber
Date: 12/22/2019 10:04:00 AM
Please forgive me--somehow I missed thanking you at the time--
Date: 9/23/2019 1:50:00 PM
Congratulations on your top win with your well penned poem. I really felt I too went with you.
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L. J. Carber
Date: 9/24/2019 9:17:00 AM
Thank you, Jeanne, I think you've given me the highest compliment a write can get!
Date: 9/23/2019 10:17:00 AM
My friend, Congratulations on your placement in SilentOne's Crossroads contest!
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L. J. Carber
Date: 9/23/2019 11:04:00 AM
Thank my old friend!
Date: 9/23/2019 7:12:00 AM
Congratulations L.J on your win--so much intensity in your write--powerful!
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L. J. Carber
Date: 9/23/2019 9:46:00 AM
Thank you, Vijay
Date: 9/22/2019 4:31:00 PM
Congratulations on your placement in the contest...
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L. J. Carber
Date: 9/23/2019 9:47:00 AM
Thank you, Silent one
Date: 6/8/2019 8:03:00 PM
L. J., I am awe-struck (..but not surprised) by your masterful expression of such profound introspection. A powerfully inspiring masterwork of moving intensity and beauty. It was a privilege to read and a fav! Congratulations on your excellent win. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan
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L. J. Carber
Date: 6/9/2019 9:18:00 AM
No, the privilege is mine, Susan , to have such acute and sensitive readers as yourself-- thank you so very much.
Date: 6/6/2019 12:00:00 PM
Wow L.J., this is a masterpiece! Truly deserving of your high placement. I was moved by your insightful words and this winning piece is going into my faves. I am so glad you entered it so I had a chance to read it. Thank you and Congratulations on your deserving win! : )
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L. J. Carber
Date: 6/9/2019 9:16:00 AM
Thank you Connie--it is very much appreciated.
Date: 10/8/2017 3:40:00 AM
LJ - sincere congratulations on your well-earned win, my friend, and blessings for more such recognition of your wonderful writing talents! Keep up the great work!
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L. J. Carber
Date: 10/8/2017 10:52:00 AM
Thank you Gregory, truly much appreciated!
Date: 10/7/2017 2:04:00 PM
I was truly moved by this piece and appreciate so much your entry into my Foreign travels contest. Congrats on your placement!
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Thvia Shetley
Date: 10/7/2017 4:11:00 PM
It wasn't exactly what I intended but one of the things I love about contest topics is they are open to poetic interpretation. Since there was actually Foreign Travel in this piece, and it was so moving, I had to place it high.
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L. J. Carber
Date: 10/7/2017 4:06:00 PM
Thank you very much for the honor-- I wasn't sure if it was the sort of 'travel' for which the contest was intended.
Date: 2/18/2017 1:13:00 PM
Powerful message in this poetry - the number of times we say "never again"! Congratulations Len! :-)
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L. J. Carber
Date: 2/19/2017 8:02:00 AM
Thank you, Mark, I very much appreciate your thoughtful words.
Date: 2/11/2017 1:45:00 PM
len, this is so intense it made my head spin! great poem...thank you and congrats :)-luloo
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L. J. Carber
Date: 2/12/2017 8:11:00 AM
Thank you Laura Loo--- those places made my soul spin!!!