Jul
2019
Poetry Friday: Lady Liberty
I hope my US friends enjoyed celebrating Independence Day yesterday despite the heat in the weather and politics. We started a new tradition by baking cookies and making fudge (at least my daughter did) and delivering them to our neighbors. Since we are new to the neighborhood, it gave us an opportunity to meet a few more people.
For the last few years, I have struggled to celebrate the 4th of July. I want to celebrate the many good things this country has provided–opportunity and freedom and service–but it seems the forces (present throughout our history) that want to deny liberty and justice for some are stronger than ever. Are we really a nation that separates families fleeing violence and locks up children without meeting their basic needs? It seems so, but we are also a nation that shouts and marches in outrage and mobilizes to make things right. In a Facebook post yesterday, Dan Rather reflected on similar sentiments and shared a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville that offers me some comfort:
“The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”
For this week’s poem I offer a revision of one I wrote a couple of years ago. It was first drafted for Laura Shovan’s February poetry project to write a poem using 10 words found in an article. The words that inspired this poem came from an article shared by Diane Mayr: Russian arms foundry mints one-kilo silver ‘In Trump We Trust’ commemorative coin. (It’s eerie how timely that headline still seems.)
Lady Liberty
Lady Liberty
stands with open arms,
her profile a backdrop
to the poor and huddled masses
seeking a fresh start
to reverse the violence and poverty
they leave behind.
Her frozen features
welcome weary immigrants
who read
her bronze inscription
and cling to their hope to join
the newly-minted citizens
of the land of the free.
Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Tricia hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at The Miss Rumphius Effect. She shares a heat-themed triolet (one of my favorite forms) in response to the Poetry Sister challenge this month. Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today.
Margaret Simon
July 9, 2019 at 9:36 am (6 years ago)I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, being a country that repairs its faults, but some seem irreparable like slavery and now border prisons. The long term effects of these acts is impossible to envision.
I want to thank you for the poetry exchange package. I don’t think I have your email address. I hope I have permission to post your amazing golden shovel poem. Please let me know at margaretsmn at gmail. Thanks!
Mrs. McGriff
July 10, 2019 at 8:11 pm (6 years ago)I do agree that the long term effects will be with us and effect us. I just hope that we can learn from these tragic mistakes and turn back to a better path. It seems so difficult. I just sent you digital copies of the poem. Feel free to share. Now your email makes more sense since I saw it before this comment.
Michelle Heidenrich Barnes
July 7, 2019 at 10:24 am (6 years ago)I share in your disappointment, Kay, and also in your hope.
Mrs. McGriff
July 7, 2019 at 2:20 pm (6 years ago)Thanks, Michelle. It’s good to know we’re in this together.
Mary Lee Hahn
July 7, 2019 at 7:01 am (6 years ago)Thank you for reminding us to have hope and to keep working to fix this mess we’re in.
Mrs. McGriff
July 7, 2019 at 9:23 am (6 years ago)Thanks, Mary Lee. I do see reason to have hope in the thousands and millions of people who resist injustice every day.
Catherine Flynn
July 7, 2019 at 6:03 am (6 years ago)Your poem is a perfect reminder of the promise and possibility that lies within every single individual. The Dan Rather quote gives me hope that we will start to “repair our faults” next year!
Mrs. McGriff
July 7, 2019 at 9:22 am (6 years ago)Thanks, Catherine. I believe we will continue to repair our faults.
Carol
July 5, 2019 at 11:38 pm (6 years ago)Like many others, I had a hard time celebrating Fourth of July this year. I am heart broken over what we are doing to those poor children at our border. I hope we repair our faults soon.
Mrs. McGriff
July 6, 2019 at 5:44 pm (6 years ago)I do have hope that we will repair our faults. I find hope in the number of people protesting and donating and working for change.
Kimberly M. Hutmacher
July 5, 2019 at 10:26 pm (6 years ago)Yesterday was hard for me, Kay. I cried looking at pictures from the border detention centers, and I cringed at the thought of a president who wanted to have a celebration. I tried to spend the day remembering the good of our country. Your poem gives me hope.
Mrs. McGriff
July 6, 2019 at 5:43 pm (6 years ago)Me, too. I am trying to hold onto hope.
Michelle Kogan
July 5, 2019 at 9:58 pm (6 years ago)Thanks for sharing the strong quote by Dan Rather Kay. And like Linda above I like how you wove in “the newly-minted citizens” into your poem. Here’s hoping change will turn in the direction of helping immigrants once again.
Mrs. McGriff
July 6, 2019 at 5:40 pm (6 years ago)Thanks, Michelle. Despite all the news, I do have hope that the tides will change and we will continue to improve as a nation.
cheriee weichel
July 5, 2019 at 9:06 pm (6 years ago)It’s all about hope isn’t it. I had mixed feelings about celebrating Canada Day here on the first. We kept it low key and had dinner with friends. I like your idea of sharing goodies with your neighbours and getting to know them.
Mrs. McGriff
July 5, 2019 at 10:05 pm (6 years ago)Thanks, Cheriee. Your low key celebration of Canada Day sounds nice.
Ruth
July 5, 2019 at 6:14 pm (6 years ago)I like your poem! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Mrs. McGriff
July 5, 2019 at 7:47 pm (6 years ago)Thanks, Ruth!
dianne moritz
July 5, 2019 at 5:22 pm (6 years ago)Very nice poem. In honor of all immigrants I have written and shared this haiku on fb and other haiku sites:
Main Street parade/ two immigrant babies, wave tiny flags
Dianne Moritz
Mrs. McGriff
July 5, 2019 at 7:47 pm (6 years ago)Thank you, Diane. I love the image your haiku captures–what a powerful moment.
Carol Varsalona
July 5, 2019 at 4:58 pm (6 years ago)“newly-minted citizens of the land of the free” – great line, Kay. It is eerie that 2 years ago we were talking about similar issues that still exist.
Mrs. McGriff
July 5, 2019 at 7:46 pm (6 years ago)Thanks, Carol. It certainly struck me that we seem stuck in the same pattern as we were two years ago. I hope we can find our way forward.
Linda Baie
July 5, 2019 at 8:42 am (6 years ago)NO matter the person, that he or she continues to ‘cling to their hope’ is something I am in awe of. Through all the challenges, they keep on. Well said, Kay. That ‘hope’ today is important.
Mrs. McGriff
July 5, 2019 at 7:45 pm (6 years ago)It is awe inspiring when people can cling to hope through the most desperate of circumstances. Maybe one day we will read and be inspired by their stories.
Linda M.
July 5, 2019 at 7:49 am (6 years ago)Beautiful, Kay. I especially love, “the newly-minted citizens” and, pray that Lady Liberty’s arms hold up, waving immigrants in for a long, long time.
Mrs. McGriff
July 5, 2019 at 7:44 pm (6 years ago)Thanks, Linda. I hope her arms keep on waving welcome to many.