Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for being our mighty teacher, and thank you Buddy Poland for reawakening our joy of seeing this morning.
Here's to the black cats, ghost stories, lit Jack-o’-lanterns, witches piloting brooms in the air and the laughter of children as they go trick and treating on this Halloween.
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for being our mighty teacher, and thank you Buddy Poland for reawakening our joy of seeing this morning.
Here's to the black cats, ghost stories, lit Jack-o’-lanterns, witches piloting brooms in the air and the laughter of children as they go trick and treating on this Halloween.
Here's also to our poets, ever present to inspire and engage us.
'The America I Know Could Use a Good Cry'
Marcus Amaker
'I met America at a neighborhood bar.
He offered me a shot of rum and I reminded him
that Captain Morgan was a slave owner,
so the bartender awkwardly slipped another
liquid lie down my throat. I ordered another drink
and was channeled by dark spirits. The courage of
black ghosts who haunt American dreams.
I told him I loved him and I wanted him to sleep well.
“But I know I’ve been in your nightmares,”
I said. “I want to be your friend, but only if it’s a deep
relationship. Only if you show me that you are not scared
of your baggage. Bring your whole history to the table.”
America cracked open another beer as a tear
ran down his face. He said,
“I was born in a house not my own, and my fathers demanded
that their portraits hang on every wall. White paint covers each
brown brick and our backyard is a museum of unmarked graves.”
“Despite this, a garden grows,” I said. “And every home
can be torn down and rebuilt again.”
“But I’ve been told I shouldn’t completely let you in,” he said.
“Some people in my family stand in the doorway,
blocking the entrance.”
He left before I could tell him that my people have a history
of finding ways inside broken spaces and making them whole again.'
(Marcus Amaker is a poet, recording artist, and mentor, the author of eight books of poetry, most recently The Birth of All Things (Free Verse Press, 2020). In 2021, Amaker received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship')
Very good to see you MaryPat. I like bringing poems to the forum. Sometimes I search for one and other times I know what to come with. 'The America I Know Could Use a Good Cry' was re-found this morning, and it felt right. I hope this Sunday Halloween brings good spirits to you. Salud!
Of course, and thank you for alerting me to Dana Milbank's Opinion, just began it, that Christopher brought to us. What an ugly bunch of them (the R's) Be well, MaryPat.
Thank you Heather Cox Richardson for being our mighty teacher, and thank you Buddy Poland for reawakening our joy of seeing this morning.
Here's to the black cats, ghost stories, lit Jack-o’-lanterns, witches piloting brooms in the air and the laughter of children as they go trick and treating on this Halloween.
Here's also to our poets, ever present to inspire and engage us.
'The America I Know Could Use a Good Cry'
Marcus Amaker
'I met America at a neighborhood bar.
He offered me a shot of rum and I reminded him
that Captain Morgan was a slave owner,
so the bartender awkwardly slipped another
liquid lie down my throat. I ordered another drink
and was channeled by dark spirits. The courage of
black ghosts who haunt American dreams.
I told him I loved him and I wanted him to sleep well.
“But I know I’ve been in your nightmares,”
I said. “I want to be your friend, but only if it’s a deep
relationship. Only if you show me that you are not scared
of your baggage. Bring your whole history to the table.”
America cracked open another beer as a tear
ran down his face. He said,
“I was born in a house not my own, and my fathers demanded
that their portraits hang on every wall. White paint covers each
brown brick and our backyard is a museum of unmarked graves.”
“Despite this, a garden grows,” I said. “And every home
can be torn down and rebuilt again.”
“But I’ve been told I shouldn’t completely let you in,” he said.
“Some people in my family stand in the doorway,
blocking the entrance.”
He left before I could tell him that my people have a history
of finding ways inside broken spaces and making them whole again.'
(Marcus Amaker is a poet, recording artist, and mentor, the author of eight books of poetry, most recently The Birth of All Things (Free Verse Press, 2020). In 2021, Amaker received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship')
Thank you for sharing this poem, Fern. I learn so much from the people who comment on this form. Another item to add to my reading list; thanks again.
It is so good to hear from you, JennSH. I feel as you do, a student of HCR's and LFAA's subscribers. Salud!
I agree with you JennSH from NC…..BBW from GA.
Wow. And Woe.
Very good to see you MaryPat. I like bringing poems to the forum. Sometimes I search for one and other times I know what to come with. 'The America I Know Could Use a Good Cry' was re-found this morning, and it felt right. I hope this Sunday Halloween brings good spirits to you. Salud!
Thank You Fern!! Good (and delicious) spirits to you, too! May I repost the poem?
Of course, and thank you for alerting me to Dana Milbank's Opinion, just began it, that Christopher brought to us. What an ugly bunch of them (the R's) Be well, MaryPat.