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)
In case you wonder why I started this poetry blog, it was to encourage others to follow their dreams. I went through the greater part of my life missing out on opportunities due to feeling insecure in my own abilities. Because of this, I missed out on a lot of things. I've had a love and a passion for singing since I was very young, and I never allowed myself to pursue that passion. Whatever your passion is, pursue it with your whole heart. Never quit. Door after door may close in your face, but just keep knock, knock, knocking on the door.
When your hopes are crushed to the floor,
And you don't know what to do any more
You can have all you want and more
Just keep knock, knock, knocking on the door.
When it finally opens for you,
You can walk right on through.
If you land in the bottom four,
Don't worry about your score.
Inside you may be dying,
But never stop trying. Rome wasn't built in a day
Your dreams may seem light years away,
But you will find what you are looking for.
Just keep knock, knock, knocking on the door.
When it seems as if your faith is shattered,
And all your dreams begin to scatter,
Don't give up.
Don't give in.
One day you will win.
Don't become discouraged by the wait.
Keep the faith!
Fear is nothing but a word.
Your prayers have been heard.
God knows every dream that belongs to you.
He wants to make your dreams come true.
Trust and believe that he can.
He holds your future in his hands.
He will bring everything to past
Just remain steadfast.
You can have everything you want and more.
Just keep knock, knock, knocking on the door.
If you place your dreams in the hands of man,
Like words written in the sand,
They will wash away
The very same day.
When God writes your dreams on his heart,
They will never ever part.
Great things are yet in store.
Just keep knock, knock, knocking on the door.
Copyright 2014 by Patricia Newman-Harris, Living the Dream
The most beautiful things about us is that none of us are exactly the same. God has given us the beauty of diversity. Celebrate your creativity, celebrate your individuality, celebrate you in all your beauty.
Uniqueness of Life
The beauty of life is that God does nothing twice.
There is a uniqueness of life.
No two of us are exactly the same
In life, we have to make our own name.
I can't be you and you can't be me.
We have to plant our own tree.
You can't be Koby, Kareem, Stevie,
Oprah or Beyonce
Here's what I'm trying to say.
Do it your own way!
We enter this world with a clean slate.
Our time here on earth consists of what we create.
In time,
We will find our own design,
Harness our talent and make it out own.
Then, we have to water the seed we have sown.
Have faith in who you are
That one and only shining star
You, in your own individuality,
You, in your own, creativity.
If God has given you a song, sing your song.
If he has given you a picture to paint, paint your picture.
If he has given you a word to speak, speak the words he has given you.
Rest in the uniqueness of the gifts he has given you,
And your true spirit will not only shine through
God will earnestly bless everything you do.
It's a little past the date of his death, July 1, but I came across this poem that I wrote a long time ago.
Sometimes, you don't have to meet a person to feel their heart. That is they way I felt about Luther Vandross. I felt his heart through the words of his song. Luther Vandross was my favorite singer. Going to many of his concerts was a highpoint in my life. It's something I will always miss. Those who know me well, know that he was, indeed, my Music Man.
Music Man
Music man, write a song for me
Play a tender rhapsody
Let my heart feel the rhythm of your melody.
Pluck my heart strings.
Make me feel like your Queen
Music man, play a song for me
Come be my private baladeer
Let your heartbeat play in my ear,
Music man, play a song for me.
Music man I want to hear you croon.
How you make me swoon.
Music man, sing a song for me
No need to write a symphony.
I simple "Du, du, du, du du" is enough for me.
Just write a song for me.
Music man say my name.
Things will never be the same
Just write a song for me.
Music man, let me be the mate of your soul.
Together, we will write a love story never told.
Write a song for me.
Gaze into my mind.
Love is all you'll find.
Together we can make sweet harmony
Just write a song for me.
Copyright Patricia Newman-Harris
This song is dedicated to all you Luther fans out there.
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.
