In a Heartbeat

A sunny sky. A calm sea. A meandering stream. A happy child.

Suddenly they can be wracked, upended, overturned and convulsed.

It is particularly sad when an insidious and incurable disease shockingly and inexplicably threatens a hopeful and promising young life. With no warning, no visible signs and certainly no good reason.

A massive jolt of emotion tears through the family, friends, a social community. The tremors and aftershocks shake and rattle for days. Overcome and seized with profound grief and empathetic emotions, they all try to offer comfort, support, even an embrace.

Yet there is nothing they can do to change the course of events.

It is overwhelmingly painful when the victim is twelve years old. Of course, life is never ever fair. But this horror is exceedingly irrational and excessively inhumane.

Is this part of some grand design? If so, this raises doubts, skepticism and serious questions. For instance, why is this child not worthy of a long, fulfilling and meaningful life?

There must be a cure, a short-term remedy, or even a palliative. How can we forestall fate, delay the inevitable, extend the time?

How can we ease the pain?

It can all happen in a heartbeat.

A Passing Storm

As clouds blackened the summer sky
Gusting winds shoved the warm air aside
Lightening streaked with its fiery flash
While thunder roared, crackled and crashed

The rain gushed down from on high
Obscuring all before the naked eye
Inundating mountains, homes and trees
Pounding churches and shuddering leaves

Smashing on rooftops, awnings and eaves
Bouncing on sidewalks and cobblestone streets
Roiling and swirling in city squares
Washing down porches and patio stairs

Two people sheltered in a small hideaway
Suddenly detected a promising ray
Brightly projected on a nearby wall
As if to signal the end of the fall

The horrible torrent slowly diminished
And when the rain was nearly finished
The sun replaced those fearsome clouds
Leaving life replenished; again it abounds

(Cernobbio, Italy, July 2008)