Welcome to second month of Poetry Journal Monthly.
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This blog is a place to share and enjoy poetry, poets, creative journaling and each other.
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Thanks to all who shared their journals and commented.
Darla is our winner this month and she will receive a rubber stamp from Quietfire Design.
I first heard this poem, I pray for children, by Ina J Huges, when I was on a long silent retreat many years ago.
During the retreat there is no reading or writing, and the poem was recited during an evening talk.
the talk was recorded and I listened to the poem over and over again so I could remember it to write it down when I returned to the world.
I just got around to lettering it this week, added a freehand border and my favorite stamp, the flourished heart, and some water droplets that remind me of tears, by Ryn.
We pray for children
who
sneak popsicles before supper,
who
erase holes in math workbooks,
who
can never find their shoes.
And
we pray, for those
who
stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who
can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,
who
never "counted potatoes,"
who
are born in places where we wouldn't be caught dead,
who
never go to the circus,
who
live in an X-rated world.
We
pray for children
who
bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
Who
sleep with the cat and bury goldfish,
Who
hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,
Who
squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,
Who
slurp their soup.
And
we pray for those
who
never get dessert,
who
have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
who
watch their parents watch them die,
who
can't find any bread to steal,
who
don't have any rooms to clean up,
whose
pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We
pray for children
who
spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who
throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who
like ghost stories,
who
shove dirty clothes under the bed,
and
never rinse out the tub,
who
get visits from the tooth fairy,
who
don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
who
squirm in church or temple and scream in the phone,
whose
tears we sometimes laugh at
and
whose smiles can make us cry.
And
we pray for those
whose
nightmares come in the daytime,
who
will eat anything,
who
have never seen a dentist,
who
aren't spoiled by anybody,
who
go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who
live and move, but have no being.
We
pray for children
who
want to be carried
and
for those who must,
for
those we never give up on
and
for those who don't get a second chance.
For
those we smother…
and
for those who will grab the hand of anybody
kind enough to offer it.
I can't say this is a poem, I like, and it does express feelings that keep me up at night, that I return to over and over in meditation and conversation.
One hungry homeless child is too many.
Words have power. Art heals.
Let's use our words and our art this month to speak truth to power and bring healing Light into the world.
I was asked how I write a straight line of text on an unlined page.
Practice.
Often I don't care.
Sometimes I use a level with a laser light
Please post a link to your page with Mr Linky below, and leave a comment to enter the drawing for this months prize, a rubber stamp by Quietfire Design.
So very beautiful and such a timely reminder. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteExcited to be the winner this month. I'm trying to get a journal together so I can make a poetry journal. Maybe I should just grab a blank book and go with it.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Yes! just get started!
DeleteThanks for sharing this poem. I had never heard it. Really timely, with all the stories in the news about the children from Mexico. I have wanted to start something like this, but so far haven't.
ReplyDeleteNow is the time! just get started! and have fun and come back and sure your inspiration with us all!
Delete