The Colour of Utøya

After the storm
and the gunmetal grey
clouds
burst into flame

seagull wings carve
into a desert floor

the colour of Utøya
fading so fast
my heart drops low.

I cannot keep up.

© Shaista Tayabali, 2011

Almost two weeks since Norway lost many of her beloved citizens. At Ivar Flaten's blog in Drammen, my childhood friend Arzanne de Vitre Vesthaug, who witnessed the reason for our flight from Bombay in 1993, has written a powerful piece on the Contemplation of Peace amidst decades of experiencing terrorism, directly and indirectly. She writes, of her piece,

Ever since the first attacks in 1993, I have dwelled on a latent fear I sometimes feel strongly, and at other times forget easily. With each new episode of terror or violence between groups, I am always equally astounded by how politics and religion, (which essentially teaches the same human values independent of who or what one believes in), can be the cause of so much hatred and misunderstanding. I cannot fathom how it is possible, and this makes me vulnerable to great anxiousness. For years I have wanted to write of these feelings, but I have never had the words. I think it is the negative rhetoric around me that has stolen my voice – the language of revenge, hate, judgement. I find it interesting that this piece finally came to me here in Norway, 15 years later. I needed to hear words of comfort and love to be able to write this – and then my words flowed, not in a moment of fear or angst, but in a moment of peace.

You can read her words here.