Who is Going to Save Me?

When I look at children growing up today, I wonder what questions must be going through their minds?  How do they feel watching our country sweat the small stuff while things fall down around our ears?  This is what inspired this poem.

Mama Won’t You Tell Me

©2011 by P. Newman-Harris

Mama won’t you tell me

How can I make it through the day?

How can I run

How can a play

When little children are being blown away?

In a world that is morally sick

How can I not end up a statistic?

How do I stay encouraged when I’m expected to fail?

How can I stay out of jail?

How can I learn to be a man

When there is no one there to take my hand

And no one to understand?

They tell me to stand on my own two feet,

But how can I stay clean living on a crime infested street?

I don’t know how long I can stay on the right path

I don’t know how much longer I’m going to last.

What do I do when there are no jobs and no way

To make a decent pay?

You may think I’m too young to know,

But Mama I want to know

How can I be all I can be

When the decks are stacked against me?

 I appreciate your sacrifices

I really want to make something of my life

But how do I keep trying

When inside I’m dying

A little every day?

How can I make my fears go away?

How can I plan for tomorrow

When I don’t’ know if I’ll make it through the day?

Mama won’t you tell me

Who is going to save me?

It’s In Your Hands

When we were children, we loved innocent and free

Unconditionally,

With a trust unchanged by ideologies

Untouched by behaviors that contaminate

Untarnished by prejudice or hate

After a while,

We lose that inner child

Our innate ability to trust

Abandons us

If that spirit of trust is to adhere,

We’ve got to let go of our fears.

The Bible says

That the little children shall lead the way

With all my heart I believe these words are true

So, little ones I’m speaking to you.

The future of the world depends on you.

With a heart that is pure and a trust that is true,

You can change the world

For every little boy and girl

For generations, we’ve made the same mistakes

You don’t have to live with our heartaches.

You don’t have to waste years

You don’t have to cry bitter tears

If you treat one another with dignity,

You won’t have to war needlessly

We have spread hatred far too long

I hope you can learn from our wrongs

And put an end to hate

Learn to communicate

The world we live in is a mess.

I’ve lived a life time in a world filled with unrest

I’ve seen the damage that it’s done

You have got to learn how to live as one.

We have proven that the fate of this world is doomed

By a hatred that consumes

It’s so deeply inbred

That it continues to be fed.

You can make the world a better place

You can conquer the problems that we’ve failed to face

It’s clear we haven’t got a clue

So, now it’s up to you.

Our hope is fading fast

The next war may be our last

I hope you understand.

The fate of the world is in your hands.

copyright by P Newman-Harris

Beautiful

We live in a day when children struggle to be comfortable being the person they were born to be.  Sometimes we need a reminder that we are beautiful just the way we are.  We are all unique, and perfect in our own individuality.  We are beautiful.

                Beautiful

Beautiful, beautiful,

Beautiful, is what you are.

Brighter than any star

In the galaxy.

God created you to be

Different from the rest.

Inherently blessed,

You have a special place in his heart.

You are set apart.

The color of your skin, the texture of your hair

Are beyond compare.

Like the colors of the rainbow,

You have a majestic glow.

Shine like the star that you are.

Chocolate, vanilla, ebony girl

Do your Tyra twirl.

You are beautiful.

God’s Nubian Queen,

Full-figured and lean,

Shine like the star

That you are

You are beautiful.

Beautiful is what you are.

The color of your skin

Is a special blend.

You are stunning and rare

With beauty beyond compare

Walk in the beauty you possess.

No one can make you less.

Hold fast to the essence of you.

Your beauty will always shine thru.

Beautiful, that’s what you are

Brighter than any star

In the galaxy,

That’s who you were created to be.

You have a special place in God’s heart.

You are set apart.

In his eyes you will always be beautiful.

You are beautiful

Beautiful,
Beautiful,

Shine like the star

That you are.

Chocolate, vanilla, ebony girl

Do your Tyra twirl.

You are beautiful, beautiful.

Beautiful is what you are.

 copyright by P. Newman-Harris

Beyond Where the Eye Can See

Beyond Where the Eye Can See

Beyond where the eyes can see

Are hidden treasures that transcend beauty

Deep inside

Where the spirit hides

Are unchartered seas

And unveiled mysteries

For you and me

Beyond where the eye can see

Deep inside beyond forever

Fading never

Are stories untold,

Pirates booty and hidden treasures ,

Sparkling gems and nuggets of gold,

In fields of plenty

Neglected by the many

Few there be that find

These treasures that dangle on the annuals of time.

The most perfect design,

Aged like fine wine

Oh taste and see

The untold mysteries

Waiting, beyond where the eye can see

copyright by P. Newman-Harris

People are treasures, little nuggets of gold that we sometimes overlook because we don't have the time.   If only we would take the time to taste and see, what lies beyond where the eye can see.

The Extreme Makeover

          The Extreme Makeover

Everyone wants the perfect body

If they don’t like what they see,

They change their anatomy.

Tuck here

Lipo there

Add some lips

Remove some hips

Add some hair

Touch up everywhere

Recolor your eyes, reshape your nose.

Breast,

Do you want more or less?

Leave it to man

To let things get out of hand

Make your baby

Exactly the way you want him to be

Clone the perfect child

He will never go out of style

You can have it all,

Handsome, and tall,

High IQ

He can look exactly like you.

TV is reinforcing this insanity

Feeding into people's vanity

Changing their looks from head to toe

Anything goes

Downsize,

Supersize

Hey,

Whatever you say

You want to change your body?

See Dr. Gotte

He has everything you need

He can make anyone a beauty Queen

Men, you don’t know what is real and what’s not?

You don’t even know what you’ve got.

Even with a closer look,

Some have been mistook

There’s nothing we won’t do.

It’s sad, but it’s true

We are no longer satisfied with God’s handiwork

We’re too busy trying to find someone to do a new work

Sooner or later reality must be faced

There are some things that can never be replaced.

We can change our hair, our eyes,

Our lips and our thighs,

But no matter how much we plan

We can never match the work done by the Master’s hands.

Copyright:  P.Newman-Harris 

                                                     

There is Beauty in the Rain

There is Beauty in the Rain

When dark clouds loom overhead,

The road gets hard to tread

Raging waters begin to flow

And strong winds begin to blow,

Don’t fret

It’s not over yet

Storms may come and go

But this I know

The storm won’t last

This too shall pass

God’s beauty abounds

In the peaceful sound

Of the rain

On your window pane

Whenever you look at rain with regret

Don’t forget

According to God’s plan

Rain cleanses the land

Replenishes the seas

And sprinkles the trees,

Flowers and grass

So their beauty will last

Earth’s beauty goes unrehearsed

It can never be reversed

It is awesomely displayed

And replayed

Time after time

Like a never ending rhyme

Even in the midst of the storm we can say

Thank you Lord for one more day

Knowing that in the end,

He will make things beautiful once again.

copyright by P. Newman-Harris

Close Your Eyes

Close your eyes and visualize with me

A world where we could live together peacefully

With no sounds of bombs bursting in air

And spirit of contentment everywhere.

From nation to nation

There would be a shared station

No man esteemed higher than another.

We would live as brothers.

Our love would be so strong

We could do one another no wrong.

We would rejoice in victories not our own

There would be no anger in our tone

We would share a common good

There would be no unrest in our neighborhoods,

No, barrios, no ghettos, no gang retaliation,

No bullets to go astray.

Can you imagine such a day?

Broken relationships would finally heal

With anybody we could just chill.

Imagine never wanting to settle a score,

Never hating any more,

Never having to pretend,

Reject, neglect or condescend

Anyone

Imagine a world with no guns,

Weapons of mass destruction,

Violence or corruption.

There would be no need to fear.

A code of honor would adhere

All decisions would be non-politically based,

And for the good of the human race

A spirit of love would be re-birthed

Here on this earth.

Liberty and justice would eternally reign,

A universal quest for equality would loose every chain.

Every dream denied would finally come true

The world would be made anew.

Close your eyes

And visualize

With me

A world where we could live together peacefully.                        

Copyright by P Newman-Harris

A Mother's Tears

My brother requested a copy of this poem.  Since I had to retype it for him, I decided to post it today.
It was one of the first poems I wrote.

A Mother’s Tears

No one sees a Mother’s tears

Silently cried throughout the years

No one knows the secrets she has hidden under lock and key

God alone knows the endless hours she has spent on bended knees

Praying for her family

No one knows how many times she awakens during the night

At the sound of every siren

Feeling her heart sink to the floor

Silently praying until her child comes through the door.

No one knows the disappointments that choke her heart

As she fights to keep things from falling apart

Everyone takes for granted she will always be strong

So, she bears their burdens her whole life long

Bravely, she presses on

Never complaining

Working tirelessly,

Always smiling, gentle and loving

Always there for you and me

A pillar of strength for all to see

No one knows the tears she has cried silently,

No one knows the endless hours she has spent on bended knees

Praying for her family

copyright by P. Newman-Harris

Saturday (light)

            Thought I'd keep it kinda light for a Saturday morning... 

             ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM

The instant you entered the room my eyes fastened on you
And I knew

My heart had come home

To a familiar place it had always known.

Your presence was felt more than heard,

You captured my heart without a word.

Attracted to you like a moth to a flame.

I didn’t even have to know your name.

There was something about your stance

That produced instant romance.

At one glance you took my breath away.

Then, I realized you were coming my way.

You came towards me with a relaxed easy pace.

I could have died just watching the smile on your face.

My heart began to race.

As I thought, “This man is the epitome of grace.”

I stood my ground

Hearing the sound

Of my heart’s accelerated beat.

I could hardly remain on my feet.

You said, “My name is Dan,”

Slowly extending your hand.

That’s all you had to say

To steal my heart away.

Suddenly, I heard someone calling my name

Then, I felt a smack,

And a pillow hit me across the back.

When I opened my eyes, my younger sister was standing over me with a crooked grin.

Saying, “ I’m going to tell mama you were dreaming about boys AGAIN..”

 copyright P. Newman Harris