On Saturday I had the privilege of attending a writing workshop with our state poet laureate, John Warner Smith as part of the virtual Festival of Words. He presented the poem This is Not a Small Voice by Sonia Sanchez. He asked us to consider the power of collective voice and love in building a more perfect society. I stole borrowed some of Sanchez’s words as well as some from Michelle Obama on Twitter (responding to Biden’s election). “…build a nation worthy of our children.”
In the spirit of poetry,
we raise our collective pens
to toast the power
of words
to move
mountains
to reclaim
a spirit of good will.The mouths of our rivers
have spilled out enough
dirt and grime
to soil a century.
Grab your shovel, friends,
hold it high
and dig.Dig for gold!
Dig for diamonds!
Dig for poems that move you!It’s up to us to love
the ones who hate us,
to love with listening ears,
to love with a fever for love,But before we do that,
kiss the face
of a nation worthy
of our children
and our children’s children.Let’s kiss her
Margaret Simon, draft
with all the passion
of our poems. Now
Move!
I always stop to photograph rainbows.
Reflections on the Teche 
What a beautiful poem, Margaret. Especially this:
It’s up to us to love
the ones who hate us,
to love with listening ears,
to love with a fever for love,
And yes, let’s help build a nation worthy of our children and grandchildren. The perfect rainbow is a good omen. Thanks for sharing!
Beautifully borrowed and crafted, Margaret. I especially love “Dig for poems that move you!” You lead by example. 🙂
Oh, my goodness…what beauty in your poem. The call to action. I literally want to grab a shovel and dig. Yes, it IS up to us to love those that hate us. Gosh, this poem is such a light in the darkness. Thank you. I want a world worthy for our children and theirs. I want to do the work. I’m so glad and grateful for my poet friends that do it with me.
I agree with Bridget–your poem is “beautifully borrowed and crafted.” I love the energy of it and the call for a collective effort to build a nation “worthy of our children.” That second stanza is particularly wonderful!
How inspiring you are to craft a poem from other inspiration, too, and it is lovely, Margaret. I’m digging as fast as I can!
I so believe that words can move mountains, that our mouths have spilled out enough (far more than enough, way too much) dirt and grime, that we must love one another (especially when it’s hard – it’s not impossible), and that we must redeem our country by first redeeming our own hearts – for the sake of the next generations. The incredible passion in this poem is a call to action (dig! kiss; move!), one that edifies, unifies, versus dividing and destroying. Perfect example of the power of poetry. Bravo, Margaret – I stand with you!
I so appreciate your comment. We still have so much work to do as a nation. It can be overwhelming. Some days I feel my poet voice is stronger than I am, like she moves inside me. Thanks for your support of her and me.
I love your poems and I love your rainbow photo — the contrasting yet unifying geometry of straight black lines and curved colored lines seems somehow to perfectly complement the message in your poem!
Beautiful! You should send this to Michelle and Joe.
This is a poem worthy of publication in the spirit of building a new tomorrow, Margaret. “Now !ove! with the rainbow focus on change, positivity, and hope.
“enough
dirt and grime
to soil a century” sticks with me like mud after a tsunami. So much to dig through, one shovel at a time. Every rainbow helps. Thank you, Margaret.
Cheers to your post and poem, Margaret – and I so love that you brake for rainbows!!