In Memory of those lost on 9/11

To all the families that suffered loss we pause with you...as a nation.  

We can only pray that such a tremendous loss of human souls has not been in vain;

That in spite of the preponderance of hatred in the world, somehow, someway, someday an abiding love will prevail...That someday the clouds of hate will roll away...we will forget the hurts of our past and be...free at last.  Oh what a day it will be, Oh what a day it will be for you and me!

Oh What a Day It Will Be

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 more 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 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 all barriers of hate.

Someday,

Not far away,

The flags  of peace will begin to fly.

There will be no more 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,

No 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.

From collection of poems entitled Living the Dream
copyright 2014 Patricia Newman-Harris

We Sorrow with You

I just want to take a moment to offer a word of comfort to the Brown family and to all of those families who have lost a loving family member needlessly and tragically.

There is not much that can be said at this time.  Just know that you are not alone in your sorrow.    To you I offer these words:

I wish I could say the hurt will go away

I wish I could say I understand what you are going through,

I wish I could say this will be the last time you have to feel this way.

There is so much I wish I could say.

Truth is there is nothing I can say to make the hurt go away

It hurts me to know that you sorrow

It hurts me to know you feel pain.

Time alone will give you some semblance of relief

                                 And smooth the agony of your grief.   

It is not to say sometimes you won’t sorrow or weep,

But one day you will be able to look back on your time together without unbearable pain.

Until then, take comfort in knowing that every memory and every smile was not only a gift

 but a timeless treasure that goes beyond measure.

 Having lost a mother and a father this year, I know your pain.

I wrote this poem in October 2012 after my Mother passed away.  It is still like yesterday to me.

              Gone

Sometimes I pray I’m having a dream

And just don’t understand what it means

It already feels like forever since you departed.

I am so broken-hearted.

I keep reaching for the phone to call you

Like I used to do

Then I remember once again

You just can’t imagine how hard it has been.

I’ll never hear your voice or feel your touch.

I miss you so much.

The quiet peacefulness that was yours alone

It’s just gone.

The words of comfort I shared with others before

Don’t mean anything anymore.

Nothing can change the reality

You will still be-

Gone

They says things will get better with time

Those words were even mine

Nothing prepares you for this

It’s different when it’s someone you love that you miss

It’s hard to believe you will never see their smile or feel their kiss

You’ll never be able to share the little things you used to share

Cause they’re not there.

I knew how hard this would be

But it’s harder than I ever thought it would be

They say time alone will heal a heart that is shattered

But right now time doesn’t matter.

Today, tomorrow, next week

There is no comfort I can seek

Words,

Words, are just words

When you’re all alone

And someone you love has just gone.

I know you’re in a better place,

But I still want to see your face.

I know you wouldn’t want to return,

But for you, I still yearn.

I feel no disgrace

For telling you I’m in this place.

When it’ someone you love, you’ll understand.

I pray one day I can

Right now, this is my reality

When I wake up tomorrow, I’ll still feel the same

Nothing will take away the heartache or the pain

That comes with missing you

There is nothing I can do

Nothing can change the reality

You’ll still be-

Gone

Lord open the windows of heaven flood our souls

With words of comfort yet untold

We need your spirit to fall fresh on us

Giving the comfort only you can give

Each day we live

Family Reunion-We are Family

                     

When it comes to family reunions,

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even if things don’t go well,

Everyone has a memory to treasure,

What matters most is the time spent together.

No matter the family name

Every reunion seems the same.

There’s always a favorite Grandpa,

Or Grandma,

A favorite Aunt or Uncle,

Who keeps the family going.

Without knowing,

They are the family glue

That cements the memories
everyone holds onto.

If we keep living,

There are some things that are a given

One day, we will be gathering
in our favorite park under a tree

Trying to see what we can see,

Checking out everyone that comes within sight,

To see if their pants are too tight

Or their skirt is too short.

There is always the gathering of the family court.

The women gather to discuss
who has gained weight since last year

While the men go where the women can’t hear,

Grab a brew and discuss who is doing who.

It’s almost like a competition.

The one you least expect makes an admission.

Of all people, Uncle George, says he’s been creepin

While Aunt Mamie is sleepin.

Everybody looks at him and rolls their eyes

Cause they know he ain’t doing nothing but talking lies.

You see, it don’t take a wizard

To determine that Aunt Mamie is, as Grandma would say,

Crazier that a road lizard.

Besides, Uncle George just ain’t going out that way.
He knows from experience that Aunt Mamie don't play.
Every family has a Madea.

To box the children’s ears

And keep everyone else in place.

There is always the family disgrace.

You know, the person who gets drunk and throws up all over the place.

Inevitably, somebody makes a liquor run and disappears

Only to reappear

Like magic, just before everyone says their last goodbyes.

Nobody bothers anymore to wonder why.

What would a reunion be without a little excitement?

It seems as if someone is hell bent

On causing a fight.

It doesn’t matter, because this time next year nobody remembers that night.

Well, they might remember,

But come September,

They are already making plans for the next reunion.

After all who wants to miss the family reunion?

When it’s all said and done, we are and always will be, family.

We will always forget our differences and sing, “We are family

I got all my people with me.”

We are family!

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris

Craziness....It's time to stop the craziness...Time to opt for something bigger.

This doesn't have to happen to you!

Craziness

I am tired of the craziness

Tired of seeing our children being laid to rest.

It’s time to stop killing one another.

Who cares about a color?

It has nothing to do with  our freedom

Or how far we have come.

Red or blue,

Those colors don’t define you.

Take time to think about the things you doing.

It effects more than you.

I get angry with every new death.

If you keep this up, no one will be left.

No one is safe in the hood,

Because you’re always up to no good.

The path you are taking will win you no accolades.

Any notoriety you feel you have will soon fade.

You may be on top,

Big man on the block,

But there is always someone hiding in the shadows.

That’s the way it goes.

Someone waiting to retaliate.

It’s an unnecessary form of hate.

You may love the gangsta lifestyle,

Doing nothing worthwhile,

Hangin,

All the time bangin,

But correct me if I’m wrong.

Gangsta’s  don’t live that long.

How many OG’s do you know that came out alive?

Do you call life without parole being alive?

Truth is my brother, more sooner than later,

You will die

If you never considered this, you are a lie.

You see, your luck can only last so long.

Most of it is already gone.

How long do you think people are going to

Suffer your wrath?

You are on a deadly path

If you're ready to blow your mind,

You may as well walk a field of mines.

Get over with right away.

All I’m saying is, one way or another, you will pay.

I can’t understand why you want to fail?

No one in his right mind wants to go in and out

of jail.

Yet, you continue to do things that will land you

Behind bars.

You ought to be tired of the battle scars.

When will you get enough?

Life wasn’t meant to be that rough.

I want you to be man enough to stand proud;

Away from the crowd

Never being afraid to be all you can be.

Another failure?

No , you don’t have to be

A statistic?

I don’t think so.

You’ve got to know

You control your own destiny.

What others say about you is not your reality.

You don’t have to bang.

It ain’t no thang.

You can change your ways before it’s too  late.

The choice is yours to make.

If it’s the gangsta life you crave,

You will end up in an early grave.

Our ancestors died so you would be free.

It’s time you lived like you are free.

It breaks my heart to see you going the wrong way.

I couldn’t just sit back and watch you throw

Your life away.

I’m just tired,

Tired of seeing our children being laid to rest.

Tired,

Tired, of the craziness!

From Living the Dream

copyright 2013, Patricia Newman-Harris

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