Richard Lamoureux Poet Free verse

Silent Drums

The sound of drums has halted
Canoes traded for cars
No one left to tell of the bear.
Billboards cover the landscape
Is this progress?
Is this what you seen in your mind's eye?
Who will teach your ancestral tongue?
Let your drums beat once again.




Written for Debbie Guzzi's any Eight Line Contest

I chose to write about the loss of our first Nation people's culture.
This loss took place as a result of Residential school system and
at the hands of people who abused their children. Buckets of money
will not compensate for the loss of culture and sense of community.
The wealth is being concentrated in the hands of a few people while
Many members of their communities live in Third World Conditions.

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Eileen Manassian May 15, 2013 at 4:39 PM Lovely write, Richard. Thanks for speaking up for them Richard Lamoureux May 15, 2013 at 7:17 PM No thanks required. Thanks for your thoughtful soup mail today.

Skat A February 22, 2013 at 5:52 PM Richard, your poems amazing, I like what I read, ~SKAT Richard Lamoureux May 15, 2013 at 7:17 PM Thanks

Victoria Anderson-Throop January 16, 2013 at 2:51 PM A sadness pervades the poem.. Well done. Richard Lamoureux May 15, 2013 at 7:18 PM Thanks

Poet Destroyer A January 15, 2013 at 8:53 AM Richard, :-) Congratulations in Debbie's fine " EIGHT Lines any KIND " contest. enjoy your day... PD Richard Lamoureux January 15, 2013 at 9:15 AM Thanks Linda

Barbara Gorelick January 13, 2013 at 9:35 PM You speak the truth my friend. Well done and congrats. Bg Richard Lamoureux January 13, 2013 at 10:39 PM Thanks, I appreciate the visit and comment.

Debbie Guzzi January 13, 2013 at 2:11 PM A very good topic to highlight. Believe it or not the indigenous people of Peru have lost almost all of their origin culture, destroyed by the Spanish invaders [like they did in CA. ..the missionaries ;)] Congrad's Light & Love Richard Lamoureux January 13, 2013 at 3:58 PM Many things have been done in the name of religion that have nothing to do with God. Very sad indeed.

David Williams January 13, 2013 at 6:15 AM Richard congrats on your win, a sad part of our lifetime...David Richard Lamoureux January 13, 2013 at 9:29 AM Thanks David.

Seren Roberts January 12, 2013 at 8:21 PM Congratulations Richard......Seren Richard Lamoureux January 13, 2013 at 1:38 AM Thanks Seren, you are up late.

Mehnaz Veetil January 4, 2013 at 4:08 AM when people rave on fiscal fronts and stock markets ,it is sad that a few sections of societies and communities are forced into oblivion. beautifully said... powerful too......like, like ,superlike. Richard Lamoureux January 13, 2013 at 1:37 AM Thanks Mehnaz.

Audrey Haick January 3, 2013 at 10:28 PM Excellent take on the contest...best wishes for the Winners' List, Richard. Deb, will enjoy this, I'm sure. Always, Annalise Richard Lamoureux January 13, 2013 at 1:36 AM Thanks for your kind words.

Yanny Widjanarko January 3, 2013 at 5:39 PM Really the provoked one Richard, I think in technology we are progressing but sometimes when one aspect grow rapidly and not being followed by other aspect like the moral responsibility, it will grow lame, and caused downgrading. So all must be intertwined and build each other. That what I have thougt :) Richard Lamoureux January 3, 2013 at 5:58 PM You have said it well Yanny, everything in harmony.

Debbie Guzzi January 3, 2013 at 1:32 PM Hey Rich..good entry! as to the G-d..in my write, I was being traditional, Orthodox Jews do not speak the name of G-d, or write it. It is blasphimy. Comparable to using the Lords name in vain. Though I no longer consider myself Jewish since I was writing of tradition, I chose to follow it ;) Light & Love Richard Lamoureux January 3, 2013 at 2:40 PM Thanks for explaining, I find this sort of information intresting.

Andrea Dietrich January 3, 2013 at 12:15 PM wow, this is very powerful to tell about this topic in so few lines. WELL DONE. I like this one a lot! Richard Lamoureux January 3, 2013 at 2:41 PM Thanks Andrea, very real problem here in Canada.

Daver Austin January 3, 2013 at 9:50 AM Thanks for reading my stuff, Richard. I was born in 1929 and cannot see much resemblance now to the world I grew up in. Many of the no-nos we had in the 30s and 40s are now not only tolerated, but aggrandized. Your drum beat speaks of so much that is lost and needed once again. daver Richard Lamoureux January 3, 2013 at 2:44 PM A long time ago I wrote a poem called the traveler and it was about a man much like yourself who had witnessed the world change. With the speed things ate changing I am unsure if our world will be recognizable. I don't see it as progress.

Anne-Lise Andresen January 3, 2013 at 6:49 AM A topic that we should think a little on ..... very well written, Richard. - oxox / / Anne-Lise :) Richard Lamoureux January 3, 2013 at 7:08 AM Thanks Anne Lise