Thursday, September 21, 2017

Liberty...--Hosted by Inge Wesdijk--(DaginneAignend)--The Netherlands

Dear Whispers’ Friends,

Thank you for sharing your words for the September activity.  I really appreciate all the time Inge Wesdijk put into this wonderful column.  She opens the door for a variety of views, one that gives us a chance to pause and reflect about the idea of liberty…especially in the context of “anything goes” versus moral responsibility.  I have missed our writing family, your light and your encouragement of others.

We don’t have control of the sands of time. And sometimes, we may feel a bit adrift, the title of Jim Teeters opening poem.  As writers, we do have a chance to embrace the lonely, uplift the down trodden and shine a light in our international community.

Blessings,

Karen O’Leary
Whispers’ Editor
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Adrift

I am anchored to nothing but the wind
passing aimlessly beneath a pale sky
a lone seagull dances the expanse

I float toward the shallows
seaweed sways, encircles my legs
then lets me go waving goodbye

Jim Teeters, United States
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Liberty

They provide cool shade for all who pass
Without regard for race or class.
Their strength and beauty they freely share
With people in nations everywhere.
Noble teachers are these steadfast trees
That exemplify true liberty.

Molly Moore, United States

A Joyful Dance

Birds of Paradise,
those lovely colourful gems
high up in the Jacaranda.
Can still hear their mating call
Their brilliant plumage,
a fluttering feast of splendour

Gert W. Knop, Germany

In Pursuit of Liberty

When I see our flag
a surge of freedom penetrates
my soul with grateful memories
of brave men and women
who gave their lives
in pursuit of liberty

John W. (Bill) Williams, United States
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Hand me a hammer

This lightening sky pulls my eye
   upward from newly darkening earth,
too many gulfs, too few bridges…
I will build one bridge today,
I welcome this lightening sky
   to ease my work.

Richard Carl Subber, United States
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Sweet Charity

There’s a door
In the floor
Of heaven,
And it’s made
Of silk
That sighs.

Stefanie Bennett, Australia
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Weathering Storms

Earthquakes, tornadoes and tsunamis!
Being saved brings me to grateful knees.
But do I wait for rescue from a flood
Before I'll bow my knee in gratitude?
Gratitude rescues me from spiritual death!
Sometimes I foolishly reject "living breath"?

Charlene McCutcheon, United States
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ABC

Archons give rules and freedom both at once.
Breath in and then you must let go your breath.
Chains keep some locked up, climbers safely linked.
"Depend": a word for slaves or friends in need.
Events can be controlled or not, with help.
Freedom is not yet liberty, not yet.

David Leslie, United States

Meteor Shower

Turning
My eyes above nightfall
Equal to any streaking point of light
My spirit is free to journey without limit
To the destination my soul inspires
Without end

James Marshall Goff, United States
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Persist

This is the world in which we live
we all must share and that means to give,
terra firma could be a star
if we were diamonds to glitter afar.
Love, compassion and truth would exist
if all earth’s people would simply persist.

Gerald Heyder, United States
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Freed

He left the confines of his cell,
and sniffed the morning air,
he squinted upwards at the sky,
the sunshine on his hair,
he turned to view the jail and vowed,
"I won't go back in there."

Jack Horne, England

World wide free expression

Every where people should be free
Say as they will in expression spree
Spreading love all around in victory
With no fear or hate troubling any
Just a people writing in cause of we
United, we plan in a world of plenty

Yancy Lee Dalton, United States

We Need Friends

Feeling free
is a necessity.
Whether a dinosaur
is at our door
or a current enemy,
we all need help.

Eleanor Michael, United States
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Praying for Peace

Forward thinking staying the course
Applying logic instead of force
Taking heed of good advice
Diplomacy works it's nice to be nice
Calming fear relieving tension
Peace in North Korea, no armed intervention

Allan Ball, England

The Right to Grow

Liberty is the right to grow,
to push out beyond our roots,
no matter how pinched and needy, 
no matter color, sex, or traditions,
         to cultivate the person
that makes the world a better place.

Elizabeth Howard, USA
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Liberty City

About a half mile inside the city we turn around.
It was just a joke, there's nothing good downtown.
We've work to do, tillen the crops and seedlings abound.
Take some time, smell the fresh air, help a friend with a frown.
Liberty City folks are free, be who you want to be, all is sound.
They don't want folks like us around, so I made a u-turn out of town.

Constance Escobar, United States
______________

I Am Privileged

I have the power of choice
able to respect your opinion
while being free to express mine
without fear, pressure or deceit
I am at liberty
to live and let live.

Paul Callus, Malta
______________

Global (acrostic)

God
Loves
One and all
Both equally
Allowing us to be individual in the
Lord's name.

David Fox, United States
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Gray

That world
adults discover—
hovering
between
certainties of
black and white.

Joan Leotta, United States
______________

Liberty

Some earthly time ago it was clear
Shadow free, glitteringly alive
Filling the head with extravagance
Without need to complete or empty
Reaching a zenith .... then slow decline
Now, but the memory while I'm in captivity.

Isha Wagner
New Zealand

Land of Liberty

The Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore,
Yellowstone, Yosemite, Carlsbad,
Denali, the Everglades, Great Lakes,
Smoky Mountains, white sand beaches

--spirits of the earth sing
  their welcoming song

Barbara Tate, United States
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Lamp of Welcome

In the United States,
we have a Statue of Liberty.

She asks the tired, poor,
and huddled masses to come.

Now some say, douse the lamp,
and send the immigrants home.

Caryl Calsyn, United States
______________

Polishing and flourishing process

I wish every soul could thrive
Wherever it seeks to dine and live
Everyone desires humanity's pat
I wish l could listen to the diversity
Of songs whose lyrics define and refine
Dignity and generosity into divine pebbles

Ndaba Sibanda, Zimbabwe. 

The Bee

I found a bee upon a stone today
While sitting in the shade a palm tree away
Through wings that were translucent and as fragile
As a pair of ghosts who shimmer through
The haunted halls of dreams I saw myself.
What better place than Earth to rest one’s wings?

By John Polselli, United States
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A Lyrical Swell

Starlight stirs my coffee
the moon a soft croissant
new tidal ebb in accession
impassioned lyrical swells.
biscuits await on the doily
August eclipse a memory.

Ken Allan Dronsfield, United States
_____________

A cherita (untitled)

Liberty

is not always valued
when we have it

but is much-desired
when we're deprived of it . . .
a world in need of care not warfare

Mary Gunn, Ireland
_____________

Liberty

standing
side by side
in good times
and bad
united together…
family

Peggy Dugan French, United States
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Basking in Liberty

arms
float,
dancing
with lilies
in a field of dreams…
free from clutter, spreading my wings

Karen O'Leary, United States

Released

Unchained
No time pressure
False expectations
Empty promises
Time to
breath

Inge Wesdijk (DaginneAignend), The Netherlands
___________

36 comments:

  1. Thank you Inge and Karen for these wonderful lines of poetry!

    Love,

    Gert

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    Replies
    1. I appreciate your support greatly dear Gert. Nice getting to know you better. For Karen and I it was a pleasure working on the awakening of Whispers!

      Kind regards,

      Inge

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    2. Dear Gert,

      Thank you so much for sharing your delightful poem with our Whispers' family. The multi-sense imagery brings your words to life. What a blessing to have Inge's activity to chart a new course for Whispers.

      Blessings to both of you,
      Karen

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  2. Astonishing poetry! mind expansion on steroids! such talented contributors! Thank you Inge!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Cap'n Boomerang ☺
      I'm happy about the response for the activity and all the wonderful poetry that has been submitted. It is indeed a wonderful collection!

      All the best,

      Inge

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    2. Dear Jim,

      What a joy to have your creative view on Liberty to share with readers. I chuckled at the response above. What a delight you are, my friend. Inge did a great job on this column.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  3. An absolutely stunning collection of poetry! My thanks for including my piece and so many wonderful poems. A great contribution to the written word. Thank you dear Inge and Karen!

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    Replies
    1. Dear Ken, thank you for your nice words, you wrote a beautiful poem and your piece simply belongs to this collection.

      All the best,
      Inge

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    2. Hi Ken,

      What a joy to read your creative poem! Thank you for taking part in Inge's wonderful activity. Best wishes.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  4. How wonderful to be part of this divers group of authors. Thank you so much for including me and a big thanks to all of the writers for sharing their work.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Barbara,

      Thank you for sharing your uplifting poem and for your kind words on the column. Inge did a wonderful job, giving us a variety of views to read.

      Blessings to both of you,
      Karen

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    2. Thanks Barbara, your contribution is very much appreciated and Karen and me are very happy about the response to this new activity.

      Best wishes
      Inge

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  5. This patriotic potpourri is a bevy of treasures, and greatly appreciated.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Michael,

      You creativity always shines in your words. Thank you for your kind comments.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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    2. Thanks Michael for your enthusiastic response.

      Bets wishes,
      Inge

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  6. a lovely activity, with some great poetry

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    Replies
    1. Dear Jack,

      Thank you for sharing your poem with it's creative slant, quite fitting for the topic. Inge did a great job putting this delightful column together.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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    2. Thank you so much Jack, it was a pleasure for Karen and me reading all these wonderful poems and the different thoughts about Liberty.
      I'm so happy Whispers is back on track again.

      Best wishes,
      Inge

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  7. I loved Stephanie Bennett's "Sweet Charity," it is lyrical, high art, each of us can read it differently

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    Replies
    1. Dear Richard,

      I'm glad you enjoyed Stefanie's poem. What a wonderful way to approach each new day in your verse. Hope to read more of your poetry as new activities arise.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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    2. Agreed, Stephanie wrote a great 6 line piece!
      Thanks for your comment.

      All the best,
      Inge

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  8. Whispers is without any doubt alive and kicking! What a lovely array of short poetry!

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    Replies
    1. Dear Paul,

      I got a laugh out of your comments above. I don't know how much kicking I can do but I love sharing the gift of words. Thank you for this day brightener and for sharing your poem for Inge's wonderful column.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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    2. Hi Paul, that what the intention, to wake up Whispers again and thanks to all contributors 'we did it'!

      All the best,
      Inge

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  9. Welcome Back Karen and Whispers!Best wishes and blessings,love and light,angelee

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Angelee for your sweet comment.

      Best wishes,
      Inge

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  10. Thanks so much for including me! Such illustrious company!

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    Replies
    1. Dear Joan,

      Thank you for your contribution, it's a diverse collection of wonderful poems and poets.

      All the best,
      Inge

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  11. With light heart they move; march in sixes in search of liberty!
    Poetic joy is here, sure!

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    Replies
    1. That's exactly what I mean Aju, though we had a serious topic in Liberty, writing must be a 'fun project'

      All the best,
      Inge

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  12. Hi Karen & Inge . It is a blessing that Whispers continues to provide a setting for writer's to share their talent with others.
    I feel privileged to be amongst friends . Blessings Allan .

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Allan, your words are much appreciated. Together with all enthusiastic writers like yourself we kan keep Whispers 'moving on'

      Best wishes,
      Inge

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    2. To all - Forgive me for not responding sooner. I took my first vacation in two years due to the cancer and death of my d-I-l last year and my son's cancer battle this year (he is now in remission!) Then I had computer problems. I enjoyed the talents of my fellow writers and am honored to be a part of the "Whispers" family.

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    3. Dear Caryl, I hope you have had a relaxed vacation. I think you deserve it after all you have been going through.
      I wish you all the best and hope you stay a member of this family for a long time.

      Kind regards,
      Inge

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    4. WDear Allan,

      Thank you so much for sharing your poem for our Whispers activity. It is a journey of many that makes us one. Best wishes!

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  13. Dear Caryl,

    My thoughts and prayers go with you and your family, hoping your son stays in remission.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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