Thursday, June 24

San Juan tragedy

Today I was going to continue the previous post on personal recollections of la vispera de San Juan (Saint John's Eve), but tragic events in Castelldefels, a town on the outskirts of Barcelona, have erased that idea. Last night at 11:30 pm a trainload of teenagers and youngsters got off at the station on their way to the San Juan bonfire and festivities. Apparently, on seeing the crowded pedestrian passageway under the tracks a large group of them imprudently decided to cross over the tracks, where many of them were hit by a speeding train. At last count there were a dozen dead and many injured.

Obviously, I haven't the heart to continue a piece on the romantic magic of this night. Nor can I find words to offer the family and friends of those poor young souls. When all else fails, I curl up in the lap of a soulful song. I leave you with Abbey Lincoln...

20 comments:

  1. Oh how tragic. My thoughts go to the families and loved ones who's lives were cut short too soon

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  2. I'm stunned. What a wretched devastation.

    Do take comfort from whatever you can.

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  3. oh man...this took the breath right out of me...thoughts and prayers for the families...

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  4. This kind of senseless tragedy does cause so much heartache and confusion. These things rattle our comfortable world view and make us question all our assumptions about life.

    Not sure I could find comfort in Lincoln's bluesy, melancholy strains - but glad you know what works for you.

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  5. My heart just stopped. And goes out to the family and friends of those teenagers.

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  6. Oh, the invincibility of youth. This is incredibly sad. My prayers today are for their families.

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  7. It was the first thing I read about this morning, and it will stay with me forever.
    prayers .

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  8. so painfully said. a loving parents worst nightmare without a doubt. my heart, thoughts, and prayers go to all those touched by this tragedy.
    i really enjoyed the music.

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  9. Lorenzo, such is always the heartache of life. Breathe in happiness, breathe out sorrow. Life is so terrifying, yet we strive to live? I think we are all very brave... not least of all those who must survive such a night.

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  10. That's so awful Lorenzo, sorry to hear it.

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  11. Lorenzo:

    My heart is heavy reading your post for the dear young ones and their families and all those who were presence and could not stop it from happening.

    Shaista her words are a healing balm -- so wise so true.

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  12. a moment of innocence - destroyed. i read about this tragedy this morning and was absolutely gutted. each of those children taken. be strong lorenzo. steven

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  13. I have been reading your recent postings, Lorenzo -- St. John's Eve, Saramago, your first trip to Spain, your poetry -- and I am simply overwhelmed by the quality of your writing. Sometimes I am fascinated by subject matter, sometimes by the art of writing. With your postings, however, I am able to enjoy both. Thanks for sharing your experiences and insight with care, precision, and fine art.

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  14. It's hard to even find words to express the sadness. It makes me want to howl at the moon. What a horrible tragedy. I can't even imagine what their families are feeling. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry for their loss.

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  15. how awful! i hadn't heard about it. those parents must be beyond devastated. such a tragedy for all. i pray for their healing.

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  16. Oh--what a horrible tragedy, Lorenzo! I'm so sorry to hear about this. I wasn't aware of this event. I can't even imagine hearing news like that: many lives have been changed forever.

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  17. Inexplicable and horrible.
    Life is just sometimes so darn hard.

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  18. i think i've been in a news blackout, i hadn't heard of this tragedy.

    i have are no words that can convey what i'm feeling

    prayers for all and my the friends and family find small comfort in the shared grief the world feels over this tragedy.

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  19. Oh this is such unsettling news. My vivid imagination can offer me such nightmarish visions right now and there is such horror. Terrible, terrible.

    As I write this I am listening to the music you posted. When the video starts it says Abbey Lincoln and for a split second I read Abraham Lincoln and thought "What?"

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  20. I don't know sometimes how we manage to live on in such a world. My heart hurts for the parents of the children. How would one even wish to breathe again if that were the fate of one's child? Lord God Almighty.
    (Thank you for taking the time today to offer me "Spudnik" in my trivial pursuit of a name for my potato.)

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