One of Life’s Observers

A poem emphasizing the thin line that separates the ordinary from the extraordinary.

Pardon the interruption, but I wanted to address current events in this unscheduled post.

I stood, a silent witness,  
an observer of life’s unfolding chaos;
the air thick with expectation,
the tension drawn tight as a bowstring,  
ready to snap.  

And then… the flash,
a comet streaking through the mundane;
A single crack,  
echoing against the walls of my memory.  
A moment suspended,  
time stretching like a taut thread,  
every heartbeat amplified,  
each breath a fragile thing.  

I saw him, the man,  
eyes wide,  
as if the world had paused,  
clutching at the fabric of his existence,  
the weight of inevitability heavy on his chest.  
A life extinguished,  
in the blink of an eye.  

Chaos erupted,  
screams rising, 
a whirlwind of confusion,  
the dance of fear weaving through the crowd,  
faces blurring into a canvas of horror.  

I stood rooted,  
a mere observer,  
my thoughts racing,  
while the world spun madly around me,  
the remnants of a life cut short  
echoing in the silence  
that followed the tempest.  

What does it mean,  
to witness the snapping 
of the fragile thread  
that binds us all?
What does it mean, 
to one of life’s observers,  
left standing amidst the wreckage,  
with the weight of truth pressing down?

This is what it means:
it's a reminder  
that we are all  
just a breath away  
from the edge.  

Author's Note

Today, let’s take a moment to pause and reflect, even amidst the chaos of a political activist’s murder and another heartbreaking school shooting happening just hours apart.

Today is also the 24th anniversary of 9/11, a day that began like any other but quickly spiraled into unimaginable horror.

It’s time to address the missing element: empathy. It’s easy to get caught up in anger and despair in times like these, especially when someone dismisses empathy as a “made-up, new-age term.”

It’s not merely about “walking in someone else’s shoes.” It’s about slipping into someone else’s skin—seeing the world through their eyes and understanding their feelings and reactions to it all.

This isn’t about agreeing with one another; it’s about acknowledging our shared humanity and hearing each other out, even in our darkest moments.

Recognizing our common humanity enables us to create a vibrant community filled with kindness, where every voice resonates and every heart cherished.

A fantasy?

Maybe.

But can't we at least try?

Upcoming…

• A poem of gratitude:

  In the Woods, 13 September 2025

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