Happy Independence Day-- One Day

Someday, the clouds of hate will roll away.

We will forget the hurts of our past

And be free at last.

There’ll be no suffering for anyone

No guns,

No wars to fight.

We will walk in the light

One day sunny and fair,

We will get there.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be

For you and me.

All confusion, doubt,  and suspicions

Based on race will finally be erased.

We will put our differences aside

And walk with pride.

By and by,

When the morning comes,

We will live as one

Darkness will no longer be our fate.

We will break the barriers of hate

Someday,

Not far away,

The flags  of peace will fly

There will be no tears to cry.

Can you feel it in the air?

We’re almost there.

Someday,

The clouds of hate will roll away.

We will forget the hurts of our past.                                    

And be free at last.

Love will rain

From every hillside and plain.

One day sunny and fair.

We will get there.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be

For you and me.

There will be no suffering for anyone

No guns,

Or wars to fight.

We will finally get it right.

There will be no rivers of sorrow to sail.

Peace will prevail.

By and by, when the morning comes,

We will live as one

Darkness will no longer be our fate.

There will be no barriers of hate

Can you feel it in the air?

We’re almost there.

Someday, by and by,

The flags of peace will begin to fly

The faith of those who love and care

Will see us there.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be.

For you and me.

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris

2013 Living the Dream

No matter where we live in the world,

no matter the color of our skin or our station,

Our pain makes us all the same.

Pain knows no name,

no station no place.

When someone we love dies,

we all cry.

There is no gain when the blood of our brother

flows at our feet,

There is no winner

There is only defeat.

PATRICIA NEWMAN-HARRIS

Remembering Michael..We Never Can Say Goodbye

I always felt that Michael was a kindred spirit.  I didn't know him personally, but I knew his heart.  The words he penned are words that touched me and inspired some of the poems I have written.    I wrote this poem when he passed.  I've shared it before, but no matter how many years go by, I will always feel the same.   We "Never Can Say Goodbye" to someone like Michael.

Never Can Say Goodbye

© 2011 by P. Newman-Harris

June came much too soon

But any day would have been too soon

Any year

Would have brought tears,

Because it’s true,

No matter how hard we try

We never can say goodbye

To someone like you.

The world was not prepared for this.

You will truly be missed.

You stole our heart

Right from the start

Though we hate to see you go,

We know the time has come to let you go.

You have done what you were destined to do

Now your work here is through

You were the image of love on a higher plane,

I pray one day we all can be the same.

You showed love to others

Every man was your brother

Even when love was not returned,

You loved.

I hope one day this lesson we can learn.

We have differences, but we are all in the world together.

We must love one another through whatever

Showing love every day we are given

While we are yet living.

When time is no more,

We can’t walk back through the door,

We can’t take the hurt away,

We can’t say what we need to say.

We can’t correct our mistakes

Or mend the heartbreaks

Michael in the years to come,

You will continue to be our number one.

We were blessed to have you in our midst

So for this,

Your selfless display of humanity,

And for a priceless legacy in song

That will live on long after you are gone

We say a heartfelt thank you.

And bid you adieu.

June came much too soon

But any day would have been too soon,

Any year

Would have brought tears,

Because it’s true,

No matter how hard we try

We never can say goodbye

To someone like you. 

copyright P. Newman-Harris

In Honor of my Dad

A Letter to My Father

I can’t believe I made it to this day again

Not having you here.

I keep hoping that when I close my eyes,

magically, you will appear

Daddy,

I’ve always known you were one in a million.

That special one,

The one that surpassed the rest.

The best of the best.

I feel like I never told you enough

Just how special you were to me.

Mother’s hear it constantly,

But Father’s sometimes don’t get to hear

The words I love you out loud.

I know those words would have made you proud.

I should have told you that, in my eyes,

You hung the moon and the stars,

That you were my superstar

My hero,

My champion

Of champions,

My father

Of father’s among men.

In your eyes this would have meant the world,

Because it was coming from your little girl.

No matter how old I was,

In your heart I held a special place.

It was always written all over your face

I wish I would have said the words I kept in my heart
And in my mind.

That the best father in the world was mine.

Day after day somehow has just slipped pass

Time moves so fast.

Daddy you have got to know

I miss you so.

On this side, I know I’ll never see you again,

But one day, when I leave this place,

I will see your face,

Tell you all the things you missed,

Plant your face with one big kiss

And say out loud this time

The best father in the world was mine.

Happy Father’s Day Daddy

I know you are listening to your favorite songs

and singing "Redeemed" like you used to do.

I know you are where you want to be.
Thank you for a lifetime of faithfulness

Passing the Baton-Insuring Your Children's Legacy

As Fathers, you have an awesome responsibility.  God has entrusted you with the care of your children. Caring goes beyond financial responsibility.  Children require love and attention.  They flourish when they are properly nourished emotionally.   My father had 5 children, 4 girls and 1 boy.  He spent a great part of his time working.  In order to spend time with us, sometimes he would take us with him to his spare jobs.  Even though he made us work, we enjoyed it.  He taught us, through example, how important it was to establish a good work ethic.  None of us have ever forgotten the times we spent going to work with my Dad.  It is a memory we will always treasure.

Men, I urge you to consider the role you play in your children's lives.  Make sure you are teaching them by example, to reverence and respect the legacy that we have inherited from our ancestors by leaving them a legacy that speaks faith, love, hope, determination and purpose.

Wishing you all a very happy Father's Day.  I dedicate this song to you.