Photo by Banter Snaps on Unsplash
She Would’ve Spun a Splendiferous Anime from This
“What are you doing here?” she asked, pulling away.
“Just holding you,” I murmured drowsily, gently pulling her close.
“This is inappropriate,” she protested, squinting. “And what’s with that light?”
“This is only gratitude,” I replied. “Nothing more.”
“Gratitude?” she scoffed. “I don’t even know you.”
“I know,” I said. “And I don’t know you, but thanks to you, I know a thousand words for the color blue, and so I dreamt I was the moon creeping into your window, spooning you, comforting you with borrowed glow of yesterday and tomorrow, coiling your secrets into the crux of my crescent, never to see daylight again.”
“Oh,” she said. “You doing this for all of us?”
“Yes,” I said. “Now shh!”
And after a pregnant silence, she said, “You know we’re all gone now, right?”
“Yes,” I whispered through tears.
“But take this with you.”
***
This is a tribute to the victims, survivors, and families of the Kyoto Animation Studio arson/mass-murder that claimed the lives of 34 innocent and brilliant artists. I don’t have any more words to convey my grief and sorrow, but if, like me, you ache to flood the void caused by this act of hate with acts of love, contribute to the GoFundMe setup by Sentai Filmworks. Other ways to help can be found here.
Written for dVerse Prosery #2, hosted by sarahsouthwest. Others contributed to this prompt here.
Also shared at Poets United Poetry Pantry #488.
Hephaestus’ Waste & Cosmic Rubble 
Your poem honors those who died, Barry. My heart is hurting with learning what happened.
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Me too… even now. Thanks for reading.
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I asked my son today if had heard about it and he was quite upset and saddened also. He and his wife are deep into anime, not that it would make a difference considering what happened to those innocent people. What strikes me about these cowardly acts of violence against the innocent are the *flimsy* excuses they use to commit them. As if any excuse could be enough to justify mass murder.
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Thank you for this . . .
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You know I had to say something.
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This was beautiful and moving, and brought tears to my eyes, even before I read your explanation. It’s a gorgeously appropriate tribute to a group of artists. Thank you for sharing this.
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Thank you for reading it. I’d much rather have the world be a kinder place where elegies like this are unnecessary.
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This was so touching. The imagery you used is so tender yet powerful. Hate can only be healed with love. ❤️
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Thank you. I’m glad you were so moved. My heart is broken for them, as I imagine many of us are.
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Yes, my heart has broken many times over such tragedies. 😢
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Even before I read the back story (which I had not known) this beautiful piece of writing moved me deeply.
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What a beautiful trubute to the staff of the studio,
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Thank you.
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Life is too sad. When these people went to work that morning they would have had no idea it would be their final day on earth. Lovely tribute. May the perpetual light shine upon them. RIP.
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I agreed. And thanks,
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A thousand words for blue… and the sorrow is genuinely felt. A touching tribute.
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Thank you.
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This is such a touching tribute, Barry.
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