Just another day in Paradise
This was to be a day to sort out last minute details of next week's visa run to Singapore because I have a long working day tomorrow and next Monday is a public holiday,
Isra Mi'raj Nabi Muhammad (the prophet Muhammed's birthday).
My day started off with an oversleep, which meant that I was still at home when I heard I heard a slight 'boom' and thought I felt a tremor. Having witnessed bomb blasts in Belfast and London, it stirred vague memories, but I didn't make the direct connection and carried on with my belated preparations.
I rang one of last month's paymasters to confirm that there was some cash awaiting me. It was but "there's been a bomb in the business district" they said. Oh. On with the TV to hear that the Sampoerna Plaza in Jl. Rasuna Said was the recipient.
I telephoned my current paymasters to say that, due to expected resultant traffic jams, I didn't think I'd be able to pass by to collect the paperwork necessary for the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. By then, via the Australian Consul in Medan, they'd heard that
the bomb was in fact at the Australian Embassy opposite the Sampoerna Plaza.
The TV news vacillated, but the
Jakarta Post confirmed this.
Whilst re-arranging my schedule I came across
the following story in the Guardian Online.
Yesterday the British musician, Robert Wyatt, acclaimed for his powerful, politically charged but wry songs, told how one of the stand-out tracks on his celebrated new album, Cuckooland, was inspired by an article in the Guardian about a boy born as the bombs began to fall at the start of the first Gulf war.
Wyatt's wife and writing partner, Alfreda (Alfie) Benge, wrote the lyrics for Lullaby to Hamza after being moved by the story of Hamza al-Gahnem, who spent the first 40 days of his life being nursed in an underground shelter.
Do read the full story.
Lullaby for Hamza
When bombers bomb again,
I need your lullaby.
Fires are burning,
The nightmare's begun.
The world is dark again,
I need your lullaby.
Sleep has gone.
Night is long again.
Sing me your song.
Let me sleep.
Bring me peace.
When bombers bomb again,
we'll need your lullaby.
Children cry.
Houses burn again.
Once more.
Sing songs to soothe them,
to dry their tears,
to drown the screams of war.
The world's gone wrong again,
I need your lullaby.
Night is long.
and sleep's just a dream.
Sing your song.
Stay close to me.
Sing to me.
Hushabye.
The world is dark again,
I need your lullaby.
Sleep has gone.
Night is much too long again.
Sing me your song.
Let me sleep.
Bring me peace.
Reprinted without the permission of Rykomusic Ltd
A lot more didn't happen for me today, but my little
cinetron (soap opera) is irrelevant. I just wish there were more Roberts and Alfredas in the world.
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