In Memory of Those Lost

It seems this will never end.
In times like these, I remember a poem written by
a friend that he entitled,
When will I Stop Writing Poems Like These?
Though it was some years ago that the poem was written,
I feel that it is still a very appropriate question.
There seems to be no end to the senseless killings.
When we are at war, we know lives will be lost.
The sad part about these killings is they cannot be
reasoned away.
When you have a Veteran who has served his country
in Iran or Iraq who can possibly return home only to
lose his life to gun violence, unexpectedly, something is wrong.
This is supposed to be our safe place, haven, our home.
It is the place that is supposed to embrace us all
at our lowest point.
If not here,
Where is our safe place?
Where is our haven?
When it comes to racism and prejudice,
Instead of there being a "never again,"
There is an again, and again and again.

To those who are grieving the unexpected loss of their
loved ones, I wish you peace.  I am so, so, sorry
that we have failed you once again.

When we all agree that peace

is the only course we will take

We will put an end to hate.

P. Harris

Don't Mute Your Voice

As the time to vote approaches, the need to share the importance of casting your vote is becoming more urgent.  Don't mute your voice.  If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about the outcome.  This is not the time to wait on the world to change, you have to be a part of the change.

I would like to share something I wrote before the last Presidential Election.

We have all been entertained by the prospects in the coming election.
It is okay to be entertained, but when it comes to filling the office of the President,
we need to be more than just entertained.  If nothing else, we need someone who reflects what we represent as Americans.  It would be unrealistic to expect anyone to be perfect, but there should be an expected standard.  If we want our children to be empathetic, we have to show them an example of empathy.  If we want them to be respectful, we have to show them how to be respectful.  If we want them to learn how to be just and fair, we have to show them how to be just and fair.  No, we don't need someone perfect, but now more than ever, we need someone who knows how to show love and unity.  In this age of cyber-bullying and school shootings, we need someone who can show our children that hate will not be tolerated, not just in America, but in the world.   Now, more than ever, we need a President who will listen to what others have to say.  We are a country that has been striving to attain a vision as a united nation.  We want to continue forward with that vision.  Going back down the mountains we have climbed is not an option.  So, if you are not sure whether or not you are going to vote, ask yourself this question.  How important is it to you to have the right to have a say in this country's future.  If you care about your future, the future of your children, and the future of this nation, you must vote.  A decision not to vote is a decision not to make a choice.  There is no perfect candidate, so don't use that as an excuse not to vote.  If you think one vote won't make a difference, think back to the last Presidential election.  Too many people decided that their one vote didn't matter.   It definitely does matter.   Too many people died for us to have that choice.  They must have thought it important enough to make so great a sacrifice.  Make a choice.  Please, please, use your voice.  Don't put your voice on mute.

Still Waiting on the World to Change-Will you be the One?

Will You Be the One?

These are trying times, but we don’t have to accept the looming gloom.

We can bring light to this world.  One by one. One by one, we can end hate.
Darkness does not have to be our fate.  All it takes is one man who will face
Darkness and not turn away.   One man who will illuminate the dark passageways.
All it takes is one small beam.  One man who will stand against the darkness and scream.
All it takes is just one.  One light, shining bright in the darkest night.  One light.
Just one light to lead the way.  That is what we need today.  Will you be the one?  Will you be
the one?  When it’s all said and done, will you be the one?  In this age of great darkness, we
need people who will bravely speak light into the darkness.  If we are going to win, it will
Take an army of like-minded men.   It is said, “The darkest hour is just before the day.”  We cannot
wait for the morning to come.   We need people who will stand in the darkest hours and illuminate
the passageways.  Will you be the one, the one who will stand?   In spite of your fears, with tears streaming down, will you be the one?  In darkness so deep you cannot see your way,  Will you light
the passageway?  From the darkest pit of injustice, Martin stood and screamed, "I have a dream."  All it takes is just one.  One is all it takes.  Will you be the one? Will you be the one?

Copyright Patricia Newman-Harris, 2018