April - Poetry Month - Day Twenty-One - Ubi Sunt - And Poetry Friday!

  

       Happy Poetry Month, where poems parade in the streets, run like rivers within our veins or settle in our hearts every.single,time. 

       I am using use this older book pictured left that follows the alphabet with one kind of prompt each day. I used this book on occasion in the classroom years ago, but never worked through it day by day, with deliberation! Here goes!

        I am continuing with my Poetry Month challenges and thank Karen Edmisten for hosting Poetry Friday HERE  She has already made me happy with a special poem by Ted Kooser. Hope you'll be happy when you read it, too! Thanks very much again, Karen!

         Remember to check out what's happening with the next Progressive Poem line today by Sarah Grace Tuttle. See the entire list on the right.

         Whew, this is a brand new form to me. the Poetry Foundation says this: "This is a Latin phrase meaning “Where are they?” By posing a series of questions about the fate of the strong, beautiful, or virtuous, these poems meditate on the transitory nature of life and the inevitability of death."  There are examples also found at the site.

          A modern-era example is Pete Seeger's "Where Have All the Flowers Gone". You can listen to Peter, Paul, and Mary sing it HERE, at their 25th reunion.

      As you will see, I was looking at the past but bringing the loss forward for all of our hopes.

         Where?

 

Where are the good ones we need for support?

John Lewis, Justice Ginsburg, we cherish your words.

Bring Martin along; he sings the same song,

that all lives are better when we get along.

Where are the people from out of my past?

My grandfather told me words from his heart. 

He’s no longer here but his wisdom will last.

They’re of hope for each of us good folks today.

No matter who we meet, sometimes far away.

striving for what we all want, like those 

   yesterday–

Freedom for loving and caring, a freedom to be.

They are all gone, but we still sing the song

of those we are missing who called out the wrongs:

César, Mahatma, Gloria and Eleanor, too

have stayed in our circle,

their words ringing out

despite how we miss them

they taught us to shout!

 

Linda Baie ©  

Free Stock photos by Vecteezy