HMB: Still Isolated But Not Inoculated!
Stunned and numb with nothing but words as salve for our wounds.
1.29.23
There’s always been an allure
to Half Moon Bay,
a bucolic coastside town
of farmers and fisherman,
of artists and migrant workers.
It’s sunny and warm
in the winter,
frequently foggy and cool
in the summer.
Go figure,
that’s what you get
with a NorCal
marine layer.
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It’s quiet and serene
except when the world descends
upon it in the Fall
for the pumpkin festival
and during the holidays
when much of the Bay Area
combs its farms
for the ideal Christmas tree.
There are long beaches
and 100-foot cliffs,
sprawling rich fields
of artichokes
and hydro farms
of gerbera daisies
and ranunculus
along with wild creepy capeweed
and coastal sage
that grow
along the beaches.
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But now the flowers are bouquets
surrounding the stage in town square
along with candles and condolences,
stuffed animals and prayers,
and stones and shells
garthered from the beach.
Serenity and calm
have been shattered
by gunshots.
Seven farm workers nurturing
tiny sprouts and tending bright green shoots
and harvesting full-grown plants
were shot at close range,
shot dead by a disgruntled co-worker,
dropping where they stood,
trowels, ties and stakes in hand.
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Half Moon Bay, Oakland, Tulare,
Monterey Park, all this month
in California. Colorado Springs,
Red Springs, Chicago, Baton Rouge,
Indianapolis, Parkland, Robinsonville,
Huntsville, elsewhere,
23 mass shootings in all
across our country since Jan 1.
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Our president
sends his condolences.
Our governor says
enough’s enough.
Local officials and residents
say something must be done.
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It’s the same words every time.
And this is in a state with
strong rules and regulations
on gun ownership.
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Is that where we are?
Numb to the violence?
Too distant to the loss?
It hasn’t struck
close enough
to home?
It did in HMB.
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Today,
after all this community
has weathered this month,
torrential rains, extended power outages,
persistent flooding and a massive sinkhole
that closed the main road up and over the hill
and out of town,
now this.
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Yet shops are open on Main Street,
moms are walking their children
home from school,
farmers with trucks full of bales of hay
are heading to Half Moon Bay Feed & Fuel,
the San Benita House is serving
its renowned chowder
and pints of local beer.
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This community is
strong and resilient.
It’s again serene and quiet,
yet now calloused,
knowing it remains
isolated but not inoculated,
from anything.
Such is life
in the country
with the right
to bear arms.
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Meanwhile,
we remain stunned
and numb
with nothing
but words as salve
for our wounds.
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Such a sad week for such a peaceful place. Never the same again. Thanks for capturing it, Rich.