by Sheila Deeth
Member since:
February 1, 2007

Inauguration Day: 1/20/09: Poetry please (answer)

January 20, 2009 09:22 PM EST (Updated: January 29, 2009 12:19 PM EST)
views: 143 | rating: 10/10 (18 votes) | comments: 33

 

Is this an answer? Try,

No longer arguing the reason why.

Ours but to do, or watch the dreaming die.

 

Is this an answer? Stand,

And to our neighbor lend a helping hand.

Ours but to do, or lose our promised land.

 

Is this an answer? Pray,

For him, for us, for all, for every day.

Ours but to do, or watch it fade away.

 

Is this an answer? Hope

And pull together on the seasoned rope.

Ours but to do, and know that we will cope.

 

Is this an answer? Yes.

Our sins confess, and pray the Lord will bless

These things we do. This “Yes we can” attests.

 

© Sheila Deeth, January 2009

 

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Comments: 33

Angela A. Jan 20, 2009, 9:46pm EST
I love this piece.
Thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting
Kay M. Jan 20, 2009, 11:25pm EST
Very nicely said Sheila
JOHN BECK Jan 21, 2009, 6:30am EST
Try, stand, pray, hope, yes. Very well put, Sheila.
Marge H. Jan 21, 2009, 12:30pm EST
I like Marianne's idea. It would make a beautiful song.
Shelbia C. Jan 22, 2009, 1:19am EST
This is a wonderful poem
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Jan 22, 2009, 4:55am EST
Well done, Sheila!
Patti M. Jan 22, 2009, 11:00pm EST
Beautifully done my friend.
Patti M. Jan 22, 2009, 11:01pm EST
Thank you for your comment on my prayer request. Please continue to pray for us as Larry is still out of work.
Linda B. Jan 23, 2009, 5:12pm EST
Lovely, Sheila, absolutely lovely.
Curt L. Jan 23, 2009, 6:05pm EST
Wonderful, Sheila!
Svetlana Goryacheva Jan 24, 2009, 2:31am EST
You said it all, dear Sheila... bravo! ;-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Leah Christensen Jan 24, 2009, 2:56am EST
Very well done!
Sujata (funnily 'Suji' ) S. Jan 24, 2009, 9:12am EST
Well written poem and positive note rings well

tuned with the excellent rhyme and rhythm to excell !!!
David P. Jan 24, 2009, 4:11pm EST
I could well have appreciated had this been read at the dias on inaguration day. It calls so eloquestly to action. It drives all from the conceptural to the work, to responsibility, to generous sacrifice. Much is at stake if the many who feel it do not stand, pray, hope and answer "aye". Marvelous.
Tracey W. Jan 24, 2009, 6:03pm EST
Very well done! I love the form you have created for this. No matter what side you came down on before the election, your words ring true for inauguration day. Well said.
Mike Ellwood Jan 25, 2009, 1:25pm EST
Bravo! Sheila I am delighted that Obama has been inaugurated. I've read his books, heard his speeches and observed his demeanor. He is truly remarkable - I have never seen such a charismatic leader in my lifetime. I think your poem is better than the one read out during the ceremony, by the way.
William Dotani Jan 28, 2009, 5:24am EST
Bravo!!!!! Great message and excellent pacing. This would be great as a Jazz chant.
Kathy W. Jan 29, 2009, 8:26am EST
Shelia, would you please post this to "Freedom to Write?"
I'd love to feature this exquisitely balanced piece for that group. This work positively SANG to me: the notes of hope and the determination and willingness to both help and to be accountable.
Absolutely, positively awesome write.
Wilka
Sheila Deeth Jan 29, 2009, 12:20pm EST
Thanks for the comments everyone. Sorry I've not been gathering recently. Cold viruses and computer viruses abounding...

But I have just posted this to Freedom to Write. Thanks Kathy.
Sandy (Site Psychic™) Knauer Jan 30, 2009, 7:02pm EST
I like it, Sheila! Very nice.

(Hope you feel better soon.)
Liz [site-raven] Jan 30, 2009, 8:40pm EST
Sheila this is superb and right in the spirit of things.
Mary Z. Jan 30, 2009, 9:51pm EST
Wow! Sheila, this piece is so elegant and brings a reminder to everyone that we must all do our part . Truly beautiful.
Brava!
Lune Wolfsong Jan 30, 2009, 11:48pm EST
Oh, Sheila, this is fantastic. So perfectly you set the beat, and highlighted that blend of dream, hope, responsibility, and resolution. I'm so glad Kathy pointed us to this after she featured it.
William Dotani Jan 31, 2009, 4:35am EST
I read it again. I really like the message and the delivery. I say deliver because this is the type of poem that should be spoken in our hearts and aloud.
Sujata (funnily 'Suji' ) S. Jan 31, 2009, 5:19am EST
Yes thanks Kathy for repost !

I came back to read the worth !!

What a burst of blissful words and dotting form

to rhyme along loud and lovely !!!
Sujata (funnily 'Suji' ) S. Jan 31, 2009, 5:22am EST
Great Occassion and Great Leader's Inauguration and

great humm Sheia to Greet all happily celebrating tall !!!
Granny Janny H. Feb 2, 2009, 7:32pm EST
Try, stand, pray, hope, Yes, Every DAY!
Elsie Duggan Feb 3, 2009, 1:36am EST
Just beautifully written Sheila, and we all should pay attention to what your words say,
sheila h. Feb 4, 2009, 11:48am EST
resonates then .now and 'hope' tomorrow.
wonderful ,sheila!
Sheila Deeth Feb 6, 2009, 8:20pm EST
Thank you so much Kathy for featuring this. And thank for all the comments - kept me connected with Gather when the rest of life was pulling me away.
Glome . . . Feb 6, 2009, 9:44pm EST
Sheila ... I absolutely love this. I needed to see it today.
After listening to all these Senators rush to vote in what they don't even understand yet I felt like totaling giving up. In fact I did. I can't keep listening when the pressure is so great to go a way I feel is wrong.
But ... I didn't give up as far as God. I have/am praying that He work things out for good. Do we need to fall; to hurt? In order to call out to Him? Then let us hurt.
Would grateful hearts call out to Him? Then intervene and work a miracle on our country.
I only gave up on myself or anyone else knowing what is the right thing to do :):)
Thanks again for this encouraging wonderful poem.

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