Barbara J. Hamby

sign-up for our email list

A Poetry Day

On this absolutely gorgeous day that the television weather reporter rated a 10, I sat inside and worked on writing contests. I prepared five poems for five different contests and will mail those entries tomorrow. I enjoyed watching buds pop open on the tree out the window and sat in the sun for a while, indoors. I did get outside a few times to take out trash, or take a look at some things in the yard.

I have many poems that can use more work, and articles and essays that need additions or revisions. Some of those I sorted today and made plans to work on them.

While looking through old files, I discovered a poem I wrote sixty years ago, as a teenager. It makes me sad that so little has changed that the poem seems as relevant today as it was then.

The Torch

High in the hand of our noble woman,
The torch of freedom burns in lowly shame,
Scorning the touch of all that is human,
Fearful of our nation’s false road to fame.

We climbed the hill of slavery and fought--
Weary, we lost the way to freedom’s gate.
The striving and the battles brought us naught,
And now we have destroyed much that was great.

And shall we now put out its radiant fire,
And quench the spirit of our fertile land?
Or shall we fulfill every heart’s desire,
And steer our course with brave and steady hand?

The answer will be told in coming years
To this, the question asked through blood and tears.

I wish I could add a cheery note to finish today’s offering. Only the weather was bright today.