30 days left – we must go high
Go high, as high as
you can and then go higher
Angels will watch
God Bless America!
Tag Archives: hope
Today more than ever
Today more than ever
Love and human kindness
must win.
Trees begin
to drop their leaves
on sacred grounds
yet they still stand tall
hopeful for the spring
to bring
blooms to feast our eyes.
Life’s cycle remains in tack that way
though there is nothing more we can say
to the loved ones
who will still be in mourning.
Prayers sometimes never fill
the emptiness and the void.
Death can never be proud now;
too many hearts beat softly in
great pain
just like the drummer
who knows the refrain.
Life marches on
and as we learn to look beyond
the strife, the grief
the disbelief,
the miserable isms that
have consumed our souls,
Our oneness will and must shine through
brighter than the morning sun
and God’s night lights
will guide us
to a safe haven
where more than ever before
we will stand together.
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Also My Prayer for today
These two great singers are among my very favorite singers. Listen and read the lyrics. They always bring me peace.
I pray you’ll be our eyes,
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise,
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer,
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe
La luce che tu dai (the light that you give)
I pray we’ll find your light
Nel cuore resterà (In my heart it will remain)
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarci che (To remind us that)
When stars go out each night
L’eterna stella sei (You are the eternal star)
Nella mia preghiera (In my prayers)
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede c’è (How much faith there is)
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza (We dream of a world with no more violence)
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza (A world of justice and hope)
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino (Everyone lends a hand to their neighbour)
Simbolo di pace e di fraternità (A symbol of peace and fraternity)
La forza che ci dai (The strength you give us)
We ask that life be kind
È il desiderio che (And the desire that)
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amor (Everyone will find love)
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a sè (Around and inside themselves)
Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child
Need to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
E la fede che (And the faith that)
Hai acceso in noi (You have ignited within us)
Sento che ci salverá (I feel that it will save all of us)
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Fire, Race & Still Hope
After watching such terrifying images of the destruction caused by the fires on the west coast of the USA, I tried to put myself in the place of the victims and simply start shaking at the thought. It saddened me so much to hear about the number of deaths including a young child. I believe that climate change is the ultimate culprit for these calamities.
I wonder if we will be able to reverse the damage so far. Three states are suffering from the fires and who knows how many people will end up with serious respiratory illnesses in the weeks to come. Louisiana is soon facing yet another possible hurricane. Puerto Rico has to deal with the sand storms that come from the Sahara. You have to see it to believe that so much soot can accumulate within just a few days. The island has also experienced several earthquakes as have so many other places.
We can only hope that science will figure out what needs to be done. We know what we can do to help the situation. During the pandemic shut down, many cities were observing how the environment seemed cleaner. Obviously, there were less cars on the roads and therefore less pollution. It simply makes sense the more we work together the better the results. Sometimes it takes something like a pandemic to help us see reality.
Racial tensions augmented during these last few months. All races came together to stand up for racial justice. I recently reread a copy of James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. I had underlined these quotes so many years ago when I first read his work and which still resonates today.
“Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, the only fact we have. It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death–ought to decide, indeed, to earn one’s death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life. One is responsible for life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return.”
“And if the word integration means anything, this is what it means: that we, with love, shall force our brothers to see themselves as they are, to cease fleeing from reality and begin to change it.”
― James Baldwin
Life only happens once. And for those who believe we reincarnate it still happens one life at a time and within a specific time. I hope and believe that we can make life better for each other when we decide to accept that each of us is deserving of a good life, a healthy existence, a peaceful coexistence. I still hope that we awaken to the essence of our oneness. Are you ready?
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Still Counting the days – But also writing poems and painting
I do not want to loose momentum. I want all of us to keep our ears and eyes open. I want us to continue to ask the pertinent and relevant questions. The answers to those questions that matter to us individually and collectively for the good of all. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping informed. Read critically and look for accurate and credible sources. This is just my sincere advice. I speak as an educator, mother, grandmother and simply an American who cares about what happens to our beloved country.
In the meantime, I want to write and paint because these activities help me cope and melt my worries away a little.
Painting and Poem Melba Christie
Passions flow
hearts beat with empathy
Perhaps a hopeful tomorrow
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62 DAYS 06 HOURS 38 MINUTES 09 SECONDS – IN THE MEANTIME
In the meantime,
I pray for the souls
of over 184,000
who were probably alive
last year on this day and the day before.
Never dreamed they would leave the earth
so abruptly and alone.
In the meantime,
I write haiku,
I dream and hope,
I breathe deeply,
and visualize brighter days.
In the meantime,
I listen to nature’s songs,
I look at the view
for something new,
I seek inspiration,
to help awaken my imagination,
and I am still in the now,
and utter positive affirmations,
that our nation,
under God,
indivisible,
will unite
once again.
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70 Days – Out of Touch?
Out of touch?
Feelings are not important, right?
Death is only felt by the 177, 000 dead!
Out of touch?
Did you eat the conventional three meals today?
Do you know how many did not?
They are thousands of children, American children. Our children.
They are the homeless.
They are even those who have a home.
They are the unemployed.
They are of all colors, all creeds, all political parties.
Out of touch?
Many of us are.
This is what is so sad.
Out of touch?
We need to come to one realization.
That is, it is not just to say, “It is what it is.”
What it should be is,
What we should ask ourselves is:
What are you going do about it?
Out of touch?
Not me, not I, never again.
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71 Days 4 hours and 43 minutes – But who is counting?
The world will be watching closely
It will be listening attentively,
as the days go by.
I can only hope fervently,
as hours and minutes tick away,
that all will be said and done,
and that all of us can finally say,
“Free at last!”
Counting are the unemployed,
the sick and dying,
the crippled economy,
the souls who are hoping
they did not die in vain.
Counting are all of us,
especially those suffering the pain
of the loss of loved ones.
Counting are those,
who wait patiently for normalcy
whatever that may be.
Counting are our children
who do not understand
what is happening.
Counting are We The People,
because we were promised
in our constitution
that it would insure
domestic tranquility.
We were given rights.
I am counting the days, hours, and minutes yes,
but I am counting on you
that together we will secure
for a more perfect union.
Only when we work in unison
will we finally make change.
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Seventy-four days – Time to write a poem.
This is another found poem of sorts. Please see the attributions.
How important is it?
If I had a song,
My very own song,
An earth song,
I would be dancing on my own,
without a care in the world.
Are you listening?
The magical tune of the river tells us
It is hopeful in a time of confusion.
But wait I still hear some craziness.
I still feel like I am in the dark.
Wait a minute.
or is it an hour, a year or just seventy-four days?
I too am beginning
to see the light.
Photograph by Melba Christie
Attributions:
Man of many thoughts, keithgarrettpoetry
johncoyote
Pat Cagan
Sketchuniverse
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Countdown – 75 Days 14 hours 14 minutes – Calm will Arrive!
I was inspired by this countdown clock that measures to the second how much longer it will be until election day. I wrote the following poem starting with a borrowed line from Destined 4 the Dub. I write found poems all the time and all it takes is reading a clever line from a fellow blogger. I want to create awareness and encourage people to read and listen as we move closer to election day. It is so important to keep informed and to be able to distinguish the truth and alternative facts.
I hope you enjoy this poem. Afterall, my goal is to inspire with my art and poetry. I have been enjoying the comments. Here is the found poem. I hope that one of you can give it a title. Please write your suggestions in the comments.
Carefully choose what you remember.
Let go of all the lies.
Allow the waves of change
to flow gracefully into your hearts.
We are the new dreamers.
However, the seeds were planted long ago.
Sow them gently;
So you hear their soothing mantra.
They create harmony for us;
all of us.
Know now the urgency of our oneness.
Our voices echo love and peace.
Do not forget to look at the view.
Nature always heals the soul.
Watch out for the rainbow;
it knows our destiny.
We will survive!
Breathe!
This too shall pass.
Attributions: Miriam Out and About – Destined 4 the dub
Mediation by Melba Christie
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78 days – Calm enough to write a poem today
Uncut
like a wildflower hidden
among the wild weeds,
Life continues.
We still exist.
We will survive all eventually.
Perennial dreams
continue to inspire
some people,
somewhere,
somehow.
I wonder who they are though.
Peace yearns to be spoken about out loud.
I yearn for peace and calm again.
I want to know
how to tell if
my heart is still whole.
How wise am I
when I still believe in hope?
Should I believe that all this craziness will end?
Am I out of mind?
We are all paying a very high price now.
No money in the world will wash away the pain.
But still I remain,
and hum the glorious with refrain,
that asks all of us
to “imagine”.
I still dream profoundly
because heaven does not sleep.
It keep my dreams
floating among the purest clouds
and it shapes into the pillows
that rest my weary head.
Some words were borrowed from different poems and blog posts.
Images by Pixabay
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Got On line
Got on line
masked and subdued,
nothing much else to do.
My shopping list as long as the line
not everyone looked fine.
Glazed suspicious looks and stares
as if no one were there to comfort or to care.
Finally a signal
to walk right in.
I hope this time I’ll find everything.
Blue masking tape marks the spot
where the sixth feet distancing
between, begins and stops.
Cashier stands behind a shield of Plexiglass
Wearing white plastic gloves and
a light blue cloth mask.
No one speaks to one another;
voices muffled so why bother anyway.
So hard to understand what people say.
Cannot tell if anyone smiles.
Everyone tries not to touch someone
as they walk down the aisles.
Empty shelves
symbolize.
Does anyone truly realize
what is at stake here?
I do not think anyone knows for sure.
All we know is we must endure.
Hold on to what is so dear you hear;
even at a distance,
everyone still feels the fear.
Will today be the day
that someone here
becomes
another number calculated
on those dreaded deadly graphs
with slopes and curves
that shake and toss around our nerves.
As I walk back to my car,
I cannot hold back the tears.
I want to believe this may all just be a bad dream;
and that with a forceful and fiery scream,
I will awake,
to what was before.
Connect Ideas
A New Found Poem
A New Found Poem
To be honest
Now I can see
Magic and miracles
Our world,
Our Old world
Our New world
Will teach us lessons
We may not want see or understand.
A robin sang
to wake me up this morning
It shared a secret
From above
GOD IS IN THE RAIN!
It told me to
shout it from the house tops.
And I did.
I then went outdoors
And took a deep cleansing breath
For all those who are not able to breathe easily these days
I prayed for all those who are in despair.
The robin flew back onto the bush
Where it sang to awaken me.
I noticed Spring has indeed sprung.
Hope was alive again.
Love reentered my lonely heart.
I started to sing Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Attributions: I used titles or lines from posts written by my fellow bloggers who are always an inspiration to me.
Pat Cegan
Source of Inspiration
Frank Hubeny
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking
Man of many thoughts Keitharrettpoetry
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Haiku 232 by Melba Christie
I am hoping we stick together and regain some insight and perspective about what has happened to democracy. #Votershavepower -Melba Christie
Birds of a feather
fly high into the blue sky
hope is alive!
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Quote from “A Dream Within A Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe
I recently had a ‘dream within a dream’. I do not know how I was lead to this poem by Edgar Allan Poe. He is one of my favorite poets and moreover a great storyteller. However I had never read this poem or at least I do not recall ever having read it. I found it as I was reading an old anthology. My “dream within a dream” was more of a nightmare. I would like to share a few stanzas from the poem. For me it was an eye opener. I hope you enjoy it. Please leave a comment.
Yet if Hope has flown away
In a night or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
is but a dream within a dream.
And I hold within my hand
grains of the golden sand –
How few! yet how they creep
through my fingers
to the deep,
while I weep,
while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
but a dream within a dream?
