Welcome to the Light A Candle in the Dark website. Light A Candle in the Dark is a poetry website created to share my poetry and the poetry of others who have a love for reading and writing poetry. It is a place where poetry is loosely defined. It's a simple joy of the written or spoken word. It is not a forum for discussing technique or the contents of the poetry posted herein.
Welcome and enjoy!
Pat (aka P. Newman-Harris)
As we celebrate Independence Day, let us remember
our history, and let us determine as a nation, to
continue on a collective path of peace, hope and prosperity.
As a nation, we can create a tapestry that will last for
generations to come, one in which we all can take pride.
If we purpose in our hearts,
I know we can, I am a believer, that we can!
Living the Dream
In every land,
Every kingdom
Every corridor
Across the world
Someone died
Making the world
Better for you and I
For the cause of freedom
Men fought until nothing
Was left.
Some went to their death.
We are the seed they bore,
The fruit of their labor.
We are living their visions,
Manifesting their dreams.
We are flesh of their flesh,
Bone of their bone,
As we will be for our children
And our children’s children.
It is our duty to live with purpose
And with pride
Honoring those ancestral spirits
As if we were kin
To every man that died;
Every woman that cried,
Suffered loss,
Paid the cost.
They were not of different fiber than we.
We are made from the same tapestry.
To our ancestors we must remain true
By doing whatever we must do
To assure that their dreams of peace
Will never cease
Let every heart determine,
“Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.”
copyright Patricia Newman-Harris, Living the Dream, 2014
I know it is hard not to be discouraged by what we see,
but remember, the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
Only love will see us through these though times.
I had planned to post a poem entitled Only Love,
but due to computer problems, I am posting this poem.
A Change is in the Wind
A change is in the wind.
I know it is comings,
I just don’t know when
Talking drums beat a message of hope
over land and sea,
Hope for those living in abject poverty
A change is in the wind.
I know it is coming I just don’t know when
There will be a renewing rain
Washing hills and plains.
There will be an end to suffering and pain.
Nothing will be the same.
There will be economical gain
For a people who have lived under.
Unbearable strain.
Hold on.
A change is going to come.
No more dying little ones,
No more sickness and disease,
This will be a wind that frees.
All chains will be released
There will be an outpouring of peace.
My sisters and brothers,
Believe me when I say a change is coming.
I know it is coming.
Because talking drums are speaking
A message of hope over land and sea
No more burdens be.
They say it is time for you to drink
From the cup of mercy
So you can be free.
Hold on.
Hold on
To God’s amazing grace.
In time, you will be in a better place.
I know,
Yes, I know
A change is in the wind.
I know it’s coming;
I just don’t know when.
copyright 2014 Patricia Newman-Harris, Living Dream
The first letter I wrote to my Dad was written in 2001. This was written for Father's Day 2012,
only weeks after my Father passed. It was one of the most difficult days in my life.
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 often 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 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 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 will always be grateful to my Father for providing us with a life-time of unconditional love and devotion. I never could have wanted for more.
I wrote this letter to him on Father's Day 2001.
A LETTER TO MY FATHER
As long as I can remember, you
have always been near.
With you around, I knew I had nothing
to fear.
In your family, you have always taken pride.
That is a joy you could never hide.
You have always worked hard at anything
you put your hands to.
You are always willing and eager to help others by
doing whatever you can do.
When I think back, I don't think there is anything
you have not sold; shoes and jewelry, to name a few.
Even during rough times, you saw our family through.
We always knew we could depend on you.
Family has always been your priority.
You have always believed in accountability.
Years have not changed you in the least.
Your commitment to our family has only increased.
Your unwavering belief that, A family that prays together stays together has seen us through stormy weather.
Daddy, you are the best father a daughter could have;
a hidden treasure found; a model of fatherhood and
a blessing to our family.
Thank you for being the example of the best person I could ever want to be.
Love,
Your Daughter, Pat.
I loved you then and I love you now and forever more.
To those men and women who served
We pause to give you the respect you deserve.
You answered the call.
You gave your all.
As American citizens, we are truly blessed by your sacrifices.
From the greatest to the least we appreciate all you have done.
We honor you for every victory that was won,
and we thank you for every brick that was laid to the foundation of peace.
I dedicate this poem to those who continue the fight.
One day, there will no longer be a need to fight.
Surely, blinded eyes will one day open,
And we will see the light.
Surely
Trying to understand the heart of man
One day I took pen in hand.
Burdened by the condition of the human heart,
I wondered if we’d ever make a brand new start.
Question after question formed in my mind.
It was clear we were running out of time.
With years slipping away,
The day seemed further and further away.
Listening to messages of hate
Formulate and penetrate,.
Considering the circumstances in a diseased world,
I questioned whether there would be a different world
Before I closed my eyes
How much longer will the innocent suffer and die?
With the light of hope burning dim,
Was I holding onto a chance that was slim?
Surely, there was some good to be found,
Surely, we would place our feet on solid ground
I believe the impossible can come to be.
Surely,
The insanity will end.
Hate is not the burning message in the heart of men.
Somewhere deep inside of us,
There’s a desire to love and trust.
If my soul is to find relief,
I have to hold onto that belief.
I have to believe
The gift of peace will one day be received
In every kingdom and every land where there is discord.
Surely one day man will be on one accord.
Someday, peace will be more than just a word
In every language, in every tongue, the message will be
heard.
