The word RISE brings to my mind some of my favorite quotes:
fall seven times, get up eight
if you're going through hell... keep
going
a winner is a loser who tried one more
time
And it takes me back to one of my favorite poems ever: "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes. Here's Viola Davis... and then Langston Hughes... giving a beautiful reading!
So rising is really about perseverance, and hanging in there, not giving up.
I know for me, my confidence is built
when I have the opportunity to rise. Which means I have to allow
myself to fail. Which means taking chances. Which means getting out
of my comfort zone. Which means being brave. Which is hard!
How to Rise
A kite needs wind,
smoke needs fire.
A whale dives
d
e
e
p
before it swims up for air.
A balloon doesn't stop
to ask, what's it all for?
It simply lifts,
drifts,
find new mountains
to float over.
And each day the sun returns,
reminding us
to try
once more.
once more.
- Irene Latham
Irene, this post of yours is filled with strong voice. Viola delivers an amazing rendition of Langston Hughes' poem while Langston's voice fills the air with softness and commitment to the climb. Your poem takes the word rise to another dimension for me. It visually opens a new day for me - one in which I need to try harder to appreciate than the day before. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteA very uplifting post! Love both poems on the Rise theme.
ReplyDelete"A whale dives deep before it swims up for air" - love this. It would make a great poster!
Thanks for the inspiration,Irene, both from Mr. Hughes and you. Your path to rise is so accurate: Opportunity-->maybe fail-->take changes-->leave comfort zone-->be brave. I never thought of it broken down like that.
ReplyDeleteI love your poem. Especially the part about the balloon just doing what comes naturally, it simply lifts.
ReplyDeleteWe both turned to our African American heroes to teach us about rising. You keep rising. I'll follow close behind.
Pressing on in spite of difficulties, still climbin' on. I love your words in the poem:
ReplyDelete"And each day the sun returns,
reminding us
to try
once more."
Which means you just keep rising up, my friend!
ReplyDeleteYour poem is beautiful! I think I will share it with my sister to remind her to keep rising and find those new mountains during her treatments. I was reading "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver today, and both poems kind of have the same message - to keep going. Thank you for sharing in my OLW this month.
ReplyDelete"Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes is such a powerful poem. Your "How to Rise" is wonderful. Very young children can connect with the message. Thanks for writing and sharing it!
ReplyDeleteYes to all this. And I love your poem, Irene. Great imagery. Viola/Langston what a combo!
ReplyDelete