When we don’t know what to say, art can speak for us. This painting was done by Kelli Broussard Kaufman. She’s a Lafayette artist I follow on Facebook. (Her parents are good friends and neighbors.) I asked her permission to post the image here, and she also told me about her process. Her playlist while painting included Simon and Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence. Her art, the song, and her process notes inspired this poem.
In the sound of silence,
we think no one cares.
The words have all been said.
Prayers are empty now.Silence like a cancer grows.
The wax burns, drips, soils
the flag we want to save us.
How many more?In the naked light I saw
a flicker of candles in the wind
drawing strength from one another
burning bright and singing out–This is not who we are.
This is not our story.
We are one people.
We are better than this.(draft) Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche 
Oh Margaret- your poem brought me to tears. Thank you for so openly sharing. I just wonder if we really are better than this. Are we? Thank you, my friend.
I think we are and it’s time for some action to prove it to be so.
Thanks for going to work, marshaling art around you and drafting some of your own.
Beautiful, Margaret. Thank you for the poem, the quote, the painting, the hope.
Beautiful and so heartfelt. This is NOT who we are. Thank you for sharing the quote, the painting and the poem draft. You are strong in maintaining the dignity of art. I love that.
This is so beautiful, Margaret. Thank you for sharing these words.
Oh, how I hope you are right and that we are better than this. This is a beautiful post, Margaret. I so admire how your appreciation for others’ art sparks your own.
I’m heartbroken over all that is happening, have hope that it isn’t who we are as your poem beautifully shows. Your friend’s painting is a powerful reminder of those too many times the “lights flickered”.
Each week another sad story appears that breaks into national news. Hatred, anger, violence are all part of our times that leave such a feeling of loss. Your poem ends with a hopeful thought that the world needs to recognize. Thank you for sharing your feelings poetically, Margaret.
Thank you for this, Margaret. The art and your poem are so hauntingly beautiful and comforting. I always think I don’t understand either poetry or art, and yet these both remind me that the world needs all of us to add our voices and flames to show the world that we really are better than what these recent tragedies would indicate. You have encouraged me to make mine a little stronger.
Jenny