Hello Friday!
September 17th was Constitution Day in the US. This year, I celebrated that the Constitution of my nation still holds. It has been attacked and challenged. Yet, so far, our Constitution and federal form of government in the US continue to work by and for the people. I am grateful and acutely aware of how fragile the ideas of this old battleship of a document are. My drafty poem is a bit dark.
I had fun with poetry prompts from Ethical ELA's Open Write this week. A super fun prompt involving my favorite Earth, Wind & Fire song f and this photo generated a poem for Star's padlet:
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Thank you, Linda. Your opening "The world is coughing" holds so much meaning. Yes, "we, the people, must take care."
ReplyDeleteI like the form you created with this poem, there's a rhythm that adds to the meaning. Such a turbulent time yet the Constitution does hold, hopefully tighter than it feels in the current political climate.
ReplyDeleteA special time in my past was touring that old ship with students. Now most of them are grown & I hope they, like you, Linda, are taking note of these fragile times. I love your opening line! Indeed, "The world is coughing". Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSuch a timely poem, Linda. The Constitution seems to be holding so far, but many times barely by a thread. Tough and fragile times for our democracy.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your poem about the Constitution, I think about it a lot lately. My fingers are always crossed.
ReplyDeleteLinda, your opening line of the Constitution poem is an eye-opener for sure. Many people in my community came home from overseas vacation coughing due to uncaring adults who did not announce that they had COVID. Then, there are the upheavals and political unrest still making us twinge. We the people must take care. Thanks for that last line that is a call to action. Your padlet poem brings a light-hearted poem to bring us back to another time. Both poems are ones to remember.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I can hear your concern over domestic and global issues that thwart our freedoms. The poem is extraordinary, in my opinion. I love the line stating "nations nurse lingering exhaustion" Thank you for writing it and sharing your worries. Many of us have the same but are not as eloquent. ~ Carol Labuzzetta ~
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you captured this time in a poem. I keep thinking we need to capture these moments in history, our emotions, while it's happening. You have done this!
ReplyDeleteI share your gratitude that our Constitution is holding - though by a thread... and really appreciate your poem. Not dark. Realistic.
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me that I wrote a poem about our Founding Documents once (and Imaginary Billy Collins). Writing one for Constitution Day is a great idea. As you say, "lingering exhaustion" or no, we must take care.
ReplyDeleteI think you’ve summed our small world up very well— though doing this via poetry weaves and leaves breathing layers in between. Love your “crossed fingers behind crossed backs” wonderful—here’s hoping it holds, thanks Linda!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fragile state. Poems are a wonderful place to ponder the darker things, in my opinion. :>)
ReplyDeleteA bit dark, perhaps, but timely and true. Thank you.
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