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Good Friday, Poets
What a good day to share poetry with each other. Thanks to Laura Shovan, who hosts our round-up today, we can. Thank you, Laura!
There have been many works of art shared by my compatriots this week. From the Marine Band playing traditional Sousa marches to Lady Gaga's rendition of our Star-Spangled Banner, Amanda Gorman's jaw-dropping poetry performance to the patriotic party and fireworks show over Washington, DC, beauty reclaimed a place in this time.
I participated in the monthly writing challenges offered by Dr. Sarah Donovan at her blog, Ethical ELA.
The final prompt for the week was to select a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., think on it, and let it take you into writing. I selected this quote:
Only in darkness can you see the stars*
The previous evening I had watched with great emotion the memorial to Americans lost to Covid-19 at the Reflecting Pool of our National Mall. The twilight candles, rendition of Amazing Grace, the tolling of our National Cathedral bells, and pledges made to remember our dear ones will stay with me a long time.
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Sharpe, Scott. “Powerful Photos from the Memorial to COVID-19 Victims.” Raleigh News & Observer, Raleigh News & Observer, 19 Jan. 2021, 09:21 am, www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article248618740.html. |
Twilight
January 20, 2021
At the reflecting pool, only
last night, four hundred lanterns lit in
honor of thousands more. Darkness,
we cast you out. Can
it be winter if you
remember lavender in spring? See
that we don’t forget. We call upon the
heavens to make our tears stars
(c) Linda Mitchell 1/20/21
PS Hamish the Ox poem has a friend :)
https://padlet.com/mitchellhubeimom/Ox
*From April 3 1968’s “I’ve been to the Mountaintop” in Memphis, Tennessee.
Oh Linda: 'we call upon the heavens to make our tears stars'. So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo much in the past two days to remember and love, Linda, & you have made beautiful poetry from it and Dr. King's words. I love "Can/it be winter if you/remember lavender in spring?" Those words reflect so many things in our lives this year. Love the sentiment!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, your poem stopped me in my tracks. Can it be winter if you remember lavender is a wonderful hopeful image and the end turning my tears to stars gives me more reason to cry. This has been a truly uplifting week.
ReplyDeleteGreat minds and our Golden Shovels, dear Linda! Your poem is exquisite and makes me feel more blessed by MLK's words and that my tears of relief, joy, hope are actually stars. :)
ReplyDeleteLinda, such a lovely poem using the words of MLK. "can it be winter if you/ can remember lavender in spring?" It reminds me of how gratitude does away with anger.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, Linda. That last line is stunning!
ReplyDeleteNow that is a wonderfully inspired found poem, Linda. "Darkness we cast you out. Can it be winter if you remember lavender in spring?" I am also interested in your padlet collection. Great work!
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a chance to watch the memorial on Tuesday night, but I am so thankful that our leaders took time to pause and to remember and to acknowledge the losses we've faced this year. King's words and your poem are a beautiful call to remember and look forward.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is stunning, Linda. I'm hoping to get down to DC before the memorial display is gone, just to take it in. Thank you for joining today's link-up!
ReplyDeleteThere has surely been much calling on the Heavens in these last 12 months. An exquisite merging of one of my favorite MLK Jr. quotes with such a beautiful and momentous ceremony. Your poem twinkles.
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda - "can it be winter if you remember lavender..?" The calming influence is not lost on me. Beautiful golden shovel made of King's words and your own heart. Deeply grateful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for featuring this moving and necessary tribute to our lost countrymen. I like the action of casting out the dark and changing tears to stars. Well said!
ReplyDeleteLinda, "Can
ReplyDeleteit be winter if you
remember lavender in spring?"
Wow! And that last line, too. A sparkling poem.
This is gorgeous, Linda, and so moving. Like many other commenters, I am especially wowed by your lines about remembering lavender and turning tears to stars. What a beautiful golden shovel!
ReplyDeleteWow. "Can it be winter?..." Inspired!
ReplyDeleteGosh, Linda. Love every single line, but "We call upon the
ReplyDeleteheavens to make our tears stars" absolutely gives me goosebumps. Beautiful! -- Christie @https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/
This is so beautiful. I love the memory of lavender in spring. Perfect use of the quote!
ReplyDeleteAll kinds of perfect.
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous, moving, and sensitive poem Linda, especially these closing lines.
ReplyDelete"Can
it be winter if you
remember lavender in spring? See
that we don’t forget. We call upon the
heavens to make our tears stars"
Thanks for it!
Linda I love the creative transformations you have enacted here. Providing words with new life and meaning. All credit to you for such imagining. A poet's life source.
ReplyDelete