The Poetry of R.E. Slater: Apr 21, 2021

"Autobiographies of great nations are written in three manuscripts – a book of deeds, a book of words, and a book of art. Of the three, I would choose the latter as truest testimony." - Sir Kenneth Smith, Great Civilisations

"I must write each day without fail, not so much for the success of the work, as in order not to get out of my routine." - Leo Tolstoy

I have never believed that one should wait until one is inspired because I think the pleasures of not writing are so great that if you ever start indulging them you will never write again. - John Updike

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations." - Lawrence Ferlinghetti

[Note - If any article requires updating or correction please notate this in the comment section. Thank you. - res]

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Black Lives Matter - STAND UP!

Willie Spence, Stand UP

American Idol, April 19, 2021

STAND UP

by Jame17

November 7, 2018

Stand Up

and let your voice be heard

Stand Up

for the rights you believe in

Stand Up

having a strong voice you will surely win

Stand Up

whites blacks all colors of the world

Stand Up

all of our people should come together

Stand Up

break the cycle of division

Stand Up

unity is what we strive for

Stand Up

one clear mind we need it more and more

Stand Up

don’t shut me out

Stand Up

i’ll scream and shout

Stand Up

until you see that we are one

STAND UP

In a country that has systematised the oppression of black lives from the institution of slavery to peonage, lynching, Jim Crow, segregation, mass incarceration and police brutality, #BLM provides the church an opportunity to proclaim the gospel that announces the end of oppression. | Image: Scott Olson / Getty Images

https://jessicazannini.com/2016/01/06/stand-up-a-poem-for-black-history-month/

Poem About Standing Up For What Is Right
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/united

Hi, I am a thirteen-year-old girl who has been secretly writing poetry since fourth grade, and I'm really glad you came to read my poem! This poem that I wrote is called "United" because I wanted to write a poem that was inspiring and could mean something to everybody out there. Stand up for what you love and what you know is right because in the end that is what will matter. I hope "United" can inspire you, and I really hope you like it. Remember to follow your dreams!

United

© Erica More By Erica

December 2017

Do we stay silent

Or raise our voices?

Do we give in

Or make our choices?

This is our chance.

This is our threat.

This is our choice.

And we're not finished yet.

We stand together

And await the light.

This is our chance,

This is our fight.

Here we're standing,

United and strong.

We're not giving this up.

We're not moving on.

This is our voice;

This is what we came to show.

This is our choice,

And we're not letting go.

This is our word.

You give what you get.

This is our world,

And we're not finished yet.

We stand beside you,

Ready to pay our debt

We stand united

Because we're not finished yet.

Children are born every day,

Waiting for someone to trust.

Dreams are dreamed every day

But left alone to rust.

Raise your voices; stand up tall.

You know this is unjust.

Make your choices; stand from the fall,

Because dreams are counting on us.

I know that you are scared to be strong.

You have every right to be.

Show the dreamers that you care.

Come and stand with me.

Think of our future; think of the truth.

Think of the lives we share.

Think of our beginnings; think of our youth.

We're all just a kid from somewhere.

Standing together, holding hands,

We all came from the same place.

Joined, we are forever;

We are running the same race.

Stand with me; we're not through yet.

We are getting what we gave.

Hand in hand with me, strongest together.

This can all be saved.

This is like our lifetimes;

This is more than just a game.

This is more than just the money,

More than ourselves, more than fame.

Speak up for what matters,

Because now it does; this love is caving.

Speak up before we shatter.

Think of all the dreams we're saving.

There are kids like us in Texas,

Out in Utah, up in Maine.

There are kids that are the future Crosby,

Skinner, Matthews, Kane.

From the mountains, valleys, cities,

Suburbs, hamlets and countryside,

There are the children of this future.

All around us they reside.

On the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins,

The Canes and Minnesota Wild.

We often forget that before they were champions,

Each one was just a child

They once stood watching,

Dreaming with this light inside their eyes.

Together we can save that light,

And return it to more lives.

Here we're standing, grasping hands;

Here we're standing strong.

This time we're not giving in,

And we're not moving on.

THIS is our voice;

This is what we came to show.

This is our choice,

And we're not letting go.

This is the world we live in.

You must give what you get.

This is our word we're giving.

We're not finished yet.

We stand together, united.

This is our chance to repay this debt.

We stand beside you all, united.

We're not finished yet.

Poem of the Week for: 2018-02-27
This week's Poem of the Week, "United", is particularly poignant as we respond to yet another mass shooting. Because, this time, something long thought impossible is happening. Young people across the country by joining together United are breaking cultural and political barriers and making their world a better place. Wishing all of us the inspiration to join together United to make positive change in our own worlds!

Stand Up by Cynthia Erivo

Lyrics

I been walkin'
With my face turned to the sun
Weight on my shoulders
A bullet in my gun
Oh, I got eyes in the back of my head
Just in case I have to run
I do what I can when I can while I can for my people
While the clouds roll back and the stars fill the night

That's when I'm gonna stand up

Take my people with me

Together we are going
To a brand new home
Far across the river
Can you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
I can feel it in my bones

Early in the mornin'
Before the sun begins to shine
We're gonna start movin'
Towards that separating line
I'm wadin' through muddy waters
You know I got a made up mind
And I don't mind if I lose any blood on the way to salvation
And I'll fight with the strength that I got until I die

So I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going
To a brand new home
Far across the river
Can you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on

And I know what's around the bend
Might be hard to face 'cause I'm alone
And I just might fail
But Lord knows I tried
Sure as stars fill up the sky

Stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going
To a brand new home
Far across the river
Can you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on

I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going
To a brand new home
Far across the river
Do you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on

I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going
To a brand new home
Far across the river
I hear freedom calling
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
I can feel it in my bones

I go to prepare a place for you
I go to prepare a place for you
I go to prepare a place for you
I go to prepare a place for you

Harriet Tubman

Eloise Greenfield

Harriet Tubman didn't take no stuff

Wasn't scared of nothing neither

Didn't come in this world to be no slave

And wasn't going to stay one either

"Farewell!" she sang to her friends one night

She was mighty sad to leave 'em

But she ran away that dark, hot night

Ran looking for her freedom

She ran to the woods and she ran through the woods