As the holy season commemorates revelations of scriptures,
Sacred flame burning within, reinvigorates soul’s intellect,
Steering away from the fallible, toward realms of perfect,
Away from servitude of wealth, to caring for less-fortunate;
Empowering wisdom, vying sapience of enlightenment,
Inspiring collaboration in sanctity of spiritual exchange,
Rejecting overtures nescient, engaged in narrowness,
That confine humanity in fallacies unwitting, misguided.
In domains of self-reflection, repentance, and forgiveness,
Voice of indifference cedes to psalms compassionate,
As defective acts vow to mend ways, yearning for flawless;
Remorseful and empathetic, eying benevolence of solace.
From teachings of awakening, from sagacity of harmony,
Cognitive minds seek insights, transcendent in epiphany,
Propelling life toward enrichment in peace and congruity,
Vying spheres beyond the ordinary, edified in tranquility.
From sanctum of souls, depths of hearts, bells-pious chime,
Tolling expressions of kindness, echoing prayers sublime,
Celebrating precious gift of life, grateful for glory of divine,
As lanterns ethereal guide humanity, through reign of time.
Largely overlooked
Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day
Emancipation Day – commemorates the end of slavery
In the United States
Most States that is
There are 20 states still holding out
In 1863 slaves were freed
Texas withheld the information
It wasn't until 1865 that the slaves were
finally told by soldiers at the end of the war.
Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into
Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3
Proclaiming that the enslaved
African Americans there were free.
Let us be brave and not hide history and rejoice in
the emancipation day.
When I got it I wore it only once on a special day
That time seemed good to display, showing understanding, respect, solidarity
But I confess I don’t really know what it means to me, no pride
Over years I have thought of this metal disc, what it defines
What it recognises of me, what it says about me
Often I feel it embellishes, makes much of nothing
Seems it has more significance to others, not me
Does it make me feel better about myself, about who I was or what I did?
No
It represents something else, more a keepsake, a reminder of all those there
A silent notation, a memory, a footnote now history
I am shy about this, not quick to be proud of it
More regretful I think, this disc commemorates loss of others, lives
If I did not have this disc given from those who deem me worthy
My actions would have been null and void, the grounds for this, absent
And my friends perhaps would be here today, and not just symbolised
In this metal disc
Feb 2022
Today commemorates that awful day-
termed nine-eleven, twenty years ago,
when we, in shock, stood helpless in dismay
of what our eyes observed- that terror show;
planes downing our Twin Towers in that way.
So hard to comprehend those loved ones gone,
observing there or from our TV sets,
and praying that firefighters could bear on
to help, but later learned with sad regrets,
that hundreds gave their lives in spite of brawn.
The visions we beheld that dreadful year-
three-thousand dead- can never be erased.
Their families then left to persevere
without dear loved ones- prayed to be embraced
by faith in God to heal their pain and fear.
Today, our fears are bounding once again!
The Afghan warriors were just set free-
ending the war our soldiers died in! Then-
our weapons left behind that now decree-
more fears of future wars; not if- but when.
September 11, 2021
Independence Day is special to me
For it commemorates my liberty
I'm grateful to live in the land of the free
The best place on this earth to be.
We call our land America
Home of the brave and the free
We stand for peace and justice
And the right for everyone to be.
written July 1, 2021
November days harbor a chill.
The nights are so serene and still.
The end of the year is now near.
Memories are made and held dear.
Winter's arrival will come soon.
With nature covered in a tomb.
A holy day commemorates,
When sailing ships did liberate
The Pilgrims from a far off land.
Surely led by God's unseen hand.
Now all give thanks for God's great grace.
And blessings to the human race.
HMS counter
crippled
by mornings and sunsets
the daily city rituals
consumed with norms and smiles
I try to find me in it
Muted
by wonderful words spoken
The music commemorates us
Watch for the stop sign
But this life says go
Live
waking up in a sunshine
breathing my air
Where is my star?
What glistens without you
Juneteenth
June...back in nineteen-fifty eight, just sixty years ago,
Unknown to me, nine hundred miles away in the mid-South,
Never did I think of anything that would foreshadow...
Equal rights for me...denied to people of black color.
The waiting rooms and restrooms, solely marked as black or white:
Extremes prevailed with front and back seats taken on a bus;
Enjoying drinks from water fountains...marked, which one was right.
Nothing at home prepared me for those bigotries and 'hates'
That shocked me then, just newly married, moving with my spouse.
How could this be...in this, our land of free...United States?
Sandra M. Haight
~2nd Place~
Contest: Juneteenth
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Judged: 07/15/2018
Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States. Ref. Wikipedia
June 19, 1865, slavery in the Confederacy ended,
until then, all African Americans where slaves.
Now that the civil war was lost, blacks gained their freedom,
emancipation had become the law of the land.
Texas for the first time, accepted abolition
effectively freeing millions of slaves from bondage.
Ever since, their descendants celebrate their freedom
no longer could they be bought and sold as property.
The U.S. chose a different path to greatness, and
history commemorates each step of that journey.
(Acrostic)
June 17, 2018
Juneteenth Poetry Contest
Edward Ibeh
Awaken, this first breathe commemorates your new day. You’ve great things to do and we’re waiting, the trees, the birds, and I. Hanging on a moment. And with a slight endeavor…you create your own destiny. Eyes bear witness to the marvel that is you. The great mother, the divine goddess. Paths merge and become one. I wait for that embrace. I wait for true warmth. Skin on skin, sharing a breathe. Welcome our lives. We, as one. Our Sanctified path. Tis our destiny that we forge. Sulfur crown illuminates as the mystics have chosen. We are night sky beyond human design.
MARK TWAIN SAYS*
I used to be a quiet guy.
I finally found out why;
I once saw a quote that stunned my brain
that was writ by the great Mark Twain:
"It is better to keep your mouth closed
and let people think you are a fool
than to open it and remove all doubt."
Yes, I know the last few lines don't rhyme.
"It's just too tough to do all the time,"
Tis what great old Mark would have said,
As he put down his old pencil of lead
and started to write
on his new typewriter instead.
* This poem commemorates some of the profound statements of Mark Twain and the fact that he was the first author to use a typewriter on a manuscript sent to a publisher.
Y - yesterday, we had this bright future
O - owned by us
U - under African Skies
T - they promised us the world, in
H - hindsight it was never theirs to promise
D - daily grace are attained from God
A - and that is the only surety in a world where
Y - young people are still being used as pawns
In South Africa, we celebrate Youth Day every year on 16 June. It commemorates a pivotal point in our history 16 June 1976 in the fight against apartheid.
©150620121350
Saint John of Rila
Father John –
I have no bread
(short is the bread daily)
And the Lestvitsa* -
so long …
Longer than a thought
and shorter than a peal
of a bell.
I’m ashamed, Father,
that today I am speaking
but not staying quiet like
a germ,
like a drop of a candle.
The heart holds me up.
*[‘lestvitsa] stairway to spiritual life
Saint John of Rila (Bulgarian: ????? ???? ??????, sveti Ivan Rilski) (876 – c. 946) was
the first Bulgarian hermit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Rila
January 7 — The Synaxis of St. John the Forerunner. This is his main feast day, immediately after Theophany on January 6 (January 7 also commemorates the transfer of the relic of the right hand of John the Baptist from Antioch to Constantinople in 956)
What’s so special about a whole year?
Aside from the birthdays we hold dear.
January represents the start of something new,
so you can forget all the things you have been through.
February designates when lovers can officially share,
just how much that they truly care.
March declares that with green we must adorn,
as St. Patrick would have worn.
April witnesses the falling of showers,
and blooming of pretty flowers.
May praises the one sent to save,
by overcoming death, hell and the grave.
June grants all Fathers a special day,
for the vital role they play.
July remembers the birth of a great nation,
by hosting a fireworks celebration.
August welcomes kids back to the school,
thus remember the golden rule.
September commemorates the soldiers that serve,
our respect they unquestionably deserve.
October ushers in what we call Halloween,
costume clad kids are sure to be seen.
November allows Families to gather together,
and give thanks despite the weather.
December summons the world to sing,
in honor of the newborn king.
It will go by quick is what I fear,
so what’s so special about a whole year?