red white and blue.
The sun is shining brighter,
the air feels sweet on our lips.
Our neighbor waves,
his smile wider,
a bounce in his step.
Today is not about slippery, approach with caution,
politics and policies,
separating us.
Today freedom is bittersweet,
yet sweeter than yesterday.
The pain remains,
the pain lingers,
but for just a moment we feel safer.
There's a unity,
there is pride for the brave,
men and women in uniform.
Today hope is restored,
today we can dream
once again.
Recent events have certainly brightened a lot of spirits among a lot of people, though the clouds of what have come before, and the shadows of what lie before remain ever-present...
ReplyDeleteit is indeed bittersweet -- wonderful line --
ReplyDeletethe whole poem has a tangible feeling of calm to it. a blessed relief in the emotional maelstrom of yesterday...
ps. GORGEOUS pooch! ;)
Lovely piece. I love the calm feel of it.
ReplyDeleteWe yearn for that peace, that calm and that hope. And when we have it, even for a brief moment, it's wonderful. Good poem.
ReplyDeletenice write, i disagree with the sentiment, so forgive me a bit...we are one man safer, and guess i just have a hard time celebrating death of any sort...but really nicely written...so please forgive me.
ReplyDeleteYou express what many of us have experienced. I think an important aspect of this whole thing is the intelligence they have acquired from his compound.
ReplyDeleteWhat a time of mixed emotion!
ReplyDeleteWhile I have happiness that so many can gain a measure of comfort, the question has echoed in several conversations as to why there were no questions, no legal dealings, no honest bringing to justice involved in Sunday's cleansing. While I know that many can feel safer at his death, there was no due process and that leaves me disturbed.
ReplyDeleteForgive me though, as I think I disturb your moment of peace. You paint an idyllic moment and I hope you relish it. I wonder what repercussions might ensue in the days to come.
but I just have to share my word verification - Blessed. It must mean something!
"bittersweet, yet sweeter than yesterday".... so well said. :)
ReplyDeleteas you've read at my place, i have many questions about recent events, but i do long for unification, and i am thankful for soldiers that fight as we enjoy safety and comfort. i wish i felt peace, but i feel somber. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletevery well expressed...seems a bit to me like the quietness before the storm...but as long as it's quiet, we should enjoy...
ReplyDeleteA poem of the moment
ReplyDeleteIn a way, yes. In NYC though, there is fear. There is fear of a reaction. There is fear getting on the subway and fear that though he's gone, there are others.
ReplyDeleteVery well written!
ReplyDeleteI am still not sure how to believe it. Infact, I didn't appreciate any videos/links being posted on my FB profile.. a life's gone!
After many were lost.. :(
Sending you hugs xox
There is surety and calm in this poem, and I appreciate this. There is also fear and apprehension to come, in the general public...there are many more fanatics out there...
ReplyDeleteBut I appreciate your take, here. It is a very difficult and complex world we live in, and the calm and quiet is only momentary. That is so unfortunate. We need to develop reflection gardens all around us, for our peace.
Lady Nyo
Thanks for remembering the ones in uniform! My children appreciate the recognition.
ReplyDeleteWe wind our way through difficult times, and our leaders have to make difficult decisions. It's good for poets to write about these topics and all other artists to be involved in processing our times for us--we need symbolic interpretations as well as physical, and words that don't come from journalists and speechwriters. Thanks for tackling a hard subject.
ReplyDeleteI like your poem, it speaks to my feelings without being at all smug or "in your face." On my FB page I have read so much mixed feelings, dissension, disagreement. It's like all those lost 10 years ago have been put on the shelf-- don't rock the boat, ignore the evil out there and maybe it won't come to visit us again. I am old enough that I no longer hold a naive, idealistic view of the world. I know there could be repercussions, and I know our country is not always popular for it's choices. But I sleep better with the feeling that we have met our goal and brought some closure to the 3000+ lost on 9/11.
ReplyDeleteI think you expressed this very well. Your words...
ReplyDelete"Today freedom is bittersweet,
yet sweeter than yesterday.
The pain remains,
the pain lingers,
but for just a moment we feel safer."
...acknowledges the reality of "just for a moment." But isn't life about moments? Moments when justice has been served, moments when the Hitlers and the Bin Ladens of the world are no longer in it?
Yes, we don't know what comes next. But I'll agree that this one bad man is gone, and I'm not sorry for it. As you said so well,
"Today is not about slippery, approach with caution,
politics and policies,
separating us."
Poetry is about capturing both the real and imagined life, you present a lovely piece regarding the current events surrounding us. Nicely written ~ Rose
ReplyDeleteBittersweet. I believe that says it best.
ReplyDeleteAnd the feeling is truly beautiful..isn't it? And I wish from the bottom of my heart that everyday feels like this... brighter.. and safer...
ReplyDeleteHope is restored indeed! A justice done.
ReplyDeleteAnd truth and love marching on stronger than ever.
I really liked the uplifting feeling in this, thank you!
xo
Chris,lovely comment.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mel. My Lab thanks you too :)
ReplyDeleteThank you,Mama Zen.
ReplyDeleteGlynn, we all want peace and even if it's fleeting it makes us happier....
ReplyDeleteBrian, smiles...no forgiveness necessary..
ReplyDeleteVictoria...I think much more will come to light as time goes by....
ReplyDeleteKim, you are right about mixed emotions...not easy!
ReplyDeleteKatherine,I so understand the mixed emotions...I also think I understand how the survivors families feel for their loved ones.....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laurie.
ReplyDeleteClaudia, I hope it remains quiet :)
ReplyDeleteLori, a lot of mixed emotions today...blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteJohn, yes the moment has unanswered questions and many are still not at peace....
ReplyDeleteLauren, my heart is with all of you in N.Y city that lived through this...yes there are others but I hope tomorrow brings peace even if I have to say that I don't believe that it will....
ReplyDeleteOlivia, hugs to you as well.
ReplyDeleteLady Nyo, I wish everyone felt the need to reflect....
ReplyDeleteMichael, we can never forget the men and women in uniform, we owe them our freedom!
ReplyDeleteHedgewitch, thank you. I always tackle the things no one wants to :) I think we should speak for what we believe in-I got that from my dad.
ReplyDeleteGinny, we must never forget those that we lost on that day. They were innocent people just going about their day...I will never forget them or how I felt when I watched the horrors unfolding live on television.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, thank you for your comment.It's not that we are a mob thirsty people it's just that it's not all black and white.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rose.
ReplyDeleteRudri, truly bittersweet.
ReplyDeleteKavita...smiles to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jannie.
ReplyDeletexo.
I appreciate the sense of relief in this poem, as if the speaker's community had been holding its breath for years. Good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Matt. I like your interpretation !
ReplyDeleteThis reads like the sigh of relief of someone who has been holding her breath for ten years, knowing that today, the world is a safer place.
ReplyDeleteNice write Ayala!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, thoughtful, heartfelt, transparent.
ReplyDeleteYes.
Those words describe this poetry and they also describe *you!*
XO
Patti, I think the families that suffered loss on that day feel a little relief ....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Apryl.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Galit.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet of you.
Xo
Thank you... fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI shall stop by here often. I truly like what I have seen. Love your header photo.
Thank you, Petrina.
ReplyDeleteThat's my Daisy :)