IN MEMORY OF PEARL HARBOR VETERANS

HIGH ABOVE THE BEACH IN HONOLULU
WITH DIAMOND HEAD GRACING THE LANDSCAPE
STANDS A STATUE NAMED "LADY COLUMBIA"
AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRCASE TO A PLACE OF PEACE

STANDING ON A BOW OF A NAVY SHIP
WITH A LAUREL BRANCH IN HER HAND
SHE REPRESENTS ALL GRIEVING MOTHERS
WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN PEARL HARBOR

THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC
IS OFTEN CALLED "THE PUNCHBOWL"
IT'S 16OO ACRES HOLD OVER 33,000 GRAVES
THE FIRST ENTERED ON JANUARY 4, 1949

THE CEMETERY IS A VOLCANIC CRATER CALLED P'UOWAINA
KNOWN AS "THE HILL OF SACRIFICE"
IT CRADLES THOSE WHO SACRIFICED THEIR TOMORROWS
SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TODAY

THE GENTLE BREEZES FROM THE PACIFIC
MINGLES WITH THE LUSH TROPICAL FLOWERS
THAT SCENT THE AIR WITH LIFE
REMINDING US OF THOSE WHO ONCE LIVED AMONG US

COPYRIGHT 2011
DEBBY HARRIS

MEMORIAL PLAGUE READS...
"IN THESE GARDENS ARE RECORDED
THE NAMES OF AMERICANS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE
IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD"

*I AM THANKFUL TO ALL OF OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND LOST THEIR LIVES;  AND TO THOSE WHO ARE SERVING NOW.  MAY GOD KEEP YOU SAFE AND BRING YOU HOME SAFE TO YOUR FAMILIES.*

Tags: BYWAYS WITH BARBARA K (PART 2)

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HANDS OF DEPRESSION

YOU SEEK TO HOLD ME DOWN
PLACING PAINFUL OBSTACLES IN MY LIFE
THE HANDS OF DEPRESSION
SEEK TO PULL ME UNDER

I HEAR YOU CALLING TO ME
BUT I'M TOO STRONG TO GIVE IN
I'VE BATTLED BIGGER BATTLES
I REFUSE TO BE WEAK

YOU CALL MY NAME
AND THINK TO LURE ME IN
LIKE YOU DID MY PRECIOUS SON
ENDING ALL THIS EARTHLY PAIN

I'M HURTING... BUT I'M A SURVIVOR
YOU'VE TRIED TO TAKE MY LIFE BEFORE
BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS FOR ME
I'M LIVING PROOF OF HIS MERCY, LOVE AND GRACE

THE TIMES I AM HURTING MOST
IS WHEN I'M STRONGEST BECAUSE GOD IS WITH ME
YES, I MISS MY SON SO BADLY
BUT I WON'T GO OUT YOUR WAY

SO TAKE YOUR DEPRESSION AND YOUR BAIT
AND GO RIGHT BACK TO HELL
BECAUSE WHEN I LAY DOWN AND TAKE MY LAST BREATH
IT WILL BE GOD'S WILL...
AND NOT
YOURS
SATAN

COPYRIGHT 2011
DEBBY HARRIS

Tags: SONNETS SATURDAY SOUND PART 2

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SOARING ABOVE THE CLOUDS

Tags: FRIDAY BYWAYS 2 WITH BARBARA K

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PETE THE PELICAN

MY FIRST AND ONLY VISIT TO FLORIDA
IS ETCHED IN MY MEMORY
EVERY DAY I PACKED MY COOLER
AND WENT TO THE BEACH

THE SALTY AIR OF THE ATLANTIC
WAFTED THROUGH MY SENSES
WAVES CRASHED UPON THE SHORE
IN A SOOTHING RYTHMN

RIGHT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY
WAS PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE
WHERE THEY FILMED SOME EPISODES
OF "I DREAM OF JEANNIE"

WHAT A SIGHT IT WAS TO SEE
AN A_10 WARTHOG LUMBERING INTO BASE
SO CLOSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD CRASH
INTO THE CARS ON THE HIGHWAY

I WALKED THE BEACH
AND PICKED UP BEAUTIFUL SHELLS
WADED OUT ONLY SO FAR
FOR I KNEW SHARKS LIVED HERE

I CAME BACK AND SET UPON MY TOWEL
AND TOOK OUT MY GREEN GRAPES
JUST THEN A RATHER ODD FELLOW
FLEW IN FOR A PEEK

A LARGE PELICAN LANDED ONLY 2 FEET AWAY
HE LOOKED AT ME RATHER ODDLY
LIKE "I" WAS A STRANGE BIRD
WITHOUT ANY WINGS

HE OPENED UP HIS HUGE BEAK
SO I THREW HIM A GRAPE
WHICH HE DROPPED UPON THE SAND
AGAIN HE OPENED HIS BEAK

WE HAD US A FLORIDA STANDOFF
STARING AT EACH OTHER
I CALLED HIM "PETE THE PELICAN"
THE NAMED JUST SEEMED TO FIT

HE WASN'T AFRAID OF ME AT ALL
AND I WAS TOO FASCINATED TO FEAR HIM
I TOOK OUT MY TUNA SANDWICH
AND HE MOVED CLOSER TO ME

COULD PETE SMELL THE TUNA FISH
I BROKE OFF A PIECE AND PUT IT IN HIS POUCH
HE ATE IT AND THEN HE IMPOLITELY
SNATCHED THE REST OF THE SANDWICH

I SAID "PETE, THAT'S RATHER RUDE...
NOW WHAT WILL I HAVE TO EAT"
HE TOOK ONE LAST LOOK AT ME
AND TOOK OFF IN FLIGHT

I REACHED FOR MY COOLER AND DISCOVERED
HE LEFT ME A PARTING GIFT
I GUESS PETE HAD MANNERS AFTER ALL
I FED HIM AND HE LEFT ME A TIP

COPYRIGHT 2011
DEBBY HARRIS

*THIS IS A TRUE STORY.*

Tags: FRIDAY BYWAYS 2 WITH BARBARA K

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IT'S TIME TO LEAVE THE CASTLE
OF LITTLE GIRLS DREAMS
FAIRY TALES DON'T EXIST FOR ME
THEY'RE ONLY MAKE BELIEVE

CASTLES ARE A MIND ESCAPE
FOR ABUSED CHILDREN TO GO
A PLACE TO MENTALLY HIDE
FROM THE EVIL MONSTERS

A CHILDHOOD FANTASY
OF A MAGICAL PLACE
WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE
AND PEOPLE LOVE YOU

UNTIL ONE DAY YOU REALIZE
YOU'VE OUTGROWN YOUR UTOPIA
AND YOUR GROWING OLD
WAITING FOR THAT FAIRY TALE ENDING

THE MAGIC IS WITHIN YOU
NOT INSIDE CASTLE WALLS
YOUR MIND IS AN IMAGINATION LIBRARY
WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED

WALK AWAY FROM THE CASTLE
STOP TENDING GENERATIONAL TOMBSTONES
YOUR FLOWERS WILL NOT GROW
IN SUCH TOXIC SOIL

LET THE CASTLE CRUMBLE TO DUST
YOU'VE NO NEED OF IT ANYMORE
YOUR A GROWN WOMAN NOW
NO LONGER A HELPLESS CHILD

COPYRIGHT 2011
DEBBY HARRIS

Tags: POETRY FOR HEALING

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I DREAMED I WAS IN HEAVEN
WANDERING THROUGH THE HALLS
ENTERING THE ROOMS WAS OFF LIMIT
BUT LOOKING INSIDE...WAS ALLOWED

THE COLORS WERE SO VIVID
LIKE LIQUID GEMS THEY WERE
SHIMMERING BURSTS OF CONTRASTS
ADORNED EACH BEAUTIFUL ROOM

THE MAGNITUDE OF WORKMANSHIP
NO EARTHLY HANDS COULD CRAFT
ORNATE CARVED GOLD TRIM
FRAMED THE OPEN ARCHWAYS

I WANDERED DOWN THE HALLS
TO A ROOM CALLED "THE GREAT ROOM"
I HEARD THOUSANDS OF VOICES SINGING
AS I CAME CLOSER TO THE ENTRANCE

INSIDE THE SNOW WHITE MARBLE ROOM
STANDING BY A GOLDEN RAILING
WAS THE SON I LOST 2 YEARS AGO
SMILING AND SINGING IN PRAISE

HE TURNED TOWARD ME AND SMILED
AND MY EYES FILLED WITH TEARS
I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM SO PEACEFUL
HOW I WANTED TO HOLD HIM

I CRIED AGAINST THE ARCHWAY
WANTING TO STAY WITH MY SON
I FELT A HAND UPON MY RIGHT SHOULDER
AND TURNED TO SEE JESUS

"MOTHER, YOU'RE SON IS SAFE WITH ME NOW"
"SEE FOR YOURSELF HOW HE GLOWS"
I SPOKE AND SAID, "BUT JESUS...
I MISS HIM...CAN'T HE COME WITH ME"?

JESUS ANSWERED, "IT IS NOT YOUR TIME YET...
BUT YOU WILL BE WITH HIM AGAIN"
WITH ONE LAST LOOK I SMILED AT MY SON
AND TEARS IN MY EYES I TURNED AWAY

AT THE END OF THE HALLWAY
THERE WAS ONE LAST ROOM
ABOVE THE ARCHED ENTRANCE
A SIGN SAID "THE LIBRARY"

I LOOKED INSIDE AND WAS PUZZLED
FOR THERE WERE NO BOOKS IN THE ROOM
HOW COULD THIS BE A LIBRARY
WITH NO BOOKS TO READ

THE ROOM HAD CARVED GOLDEN PEWS
ALL FACING ONE WINDOWLESS WALL
ON THAT WALL WAS A RUGGED CROSS
A CROWN OF THORNS AND 3 SPIKED NAILS

COULD THIS BE THE CROSS OF JESUS
HUNG IN THIS VERY ROOM
I COULDN'T ENTER THE ROOM
ALL I COULD DO WAS STARE

FINALLY IT BECAME SO VERY CLEAR
WHY THERE WERE NO BOOKS IN HERE
BECAUSE EVERYTHING ONE NEEDS TO KNOW
HUNG UPON THAT CROSS

COPYRIGHT 2011
DEBBY HARRIS

*ONLY THE POEM IS COPYRIGHTED.*

Tags: FAITH POETRY

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I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I WAS NOT MEANT TO BE CHAINED
BUT FREE

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I WAS NOT BORN TO BE ABUSED
BUT LOVED

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I WAS NOT MADE DEFECTIVE
BUT PERFECT

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I WAS NOT MEANT TO BE OPRESSED
BUT EMANCIPATED

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I WAS NOT CREATED TO BE YOUR WHORE
BUT DAUGHTER

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I WAS NOT MEANT TO KEEP SILENT
BUT SPEAK

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO FEAR MY FATHER
BUT I DID

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I WAS NOT ALLOWED A NORMAL LIFE
BUT DYSFUNCTIONAL

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I AM WORTHY OF GOD'S LOVE
WITHOUT SEXUAL FAVORS

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
I AM LOVED JUST AS I AM
BAGGAGE AND ALL

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
HIS SON JESUS FREED ME FROM CHAINS
DISSOLVED MY SHAME

I'M A CHILD OF GOD
YOU HEAR THAT DADDY
I WAS HIS CHILD
FIRST

COPYRIGHT 2011
DEBBY HARRIS

Tags: POEMS OF THE HURTING HEART

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THE CLOCK IS TICKING
TIME SEEMS TO BE FLYING BY
I FEEL AS THOUGH I'M BEING LEFT BEHIND
AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO

Tags: POEMS OF THE HURTING HEART

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OUR LIVES ARE LIKE A CANVAS
ON WHICH WE PAINT OURSELVES
SOME DAY'S WE PAINT ABSTRACTS
WHEN OUR MIND'S CLUTTERED
WE DAB THE BOLD COLORS
IN NO RANDOM ORDER
UPON OUR MOOD METER
THE CANVAS OF OUR EMOTIONS

OTHER DAYS WE PAINT WITH PURPOSE
OUR MINDS EYE HOLDS THE PICTURE
THAT OUR HEARTS PAINT
METICULATE LINES
AND SPECIAL COLORS
PLACED SPECIFICALLY
IN THE ORDER WE IMAGINE THEM
IN OUR MIND

SOME DAYS THE CANVAS SCREAMS
WITH BOLD COLORS
AND HARSH LINES
LOOK AT ME
SEE MY ANGER
HEAR ME ROAR
AS I TRY TO EXPLAIN MYSELF
TO THE WORLD

MY CANVAS IS MY VENTING BOARD
AND I AM THE EASEL
WHICH HOLDS
THE SECRET PAIN
THE FEELINGS OF BETRAYAL
THE HURT DEEP INSIDE
THE CAULDRON OF INJUSTICE
THAT'S SLOWLY KILLING ME

(C) 2011
DEBBY HARRIS

* I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY, WHEN I CALLED MY MOM TO TELL HER HAPPY MOTHERS DAY;  THAT MY FAVORITE AUNT DIED.  SHE DIED TUESDAY MAY 3, AND WAS BURIED THURSDAY MAY 5.  MY FAMILY NEGLECTED TO TELL ME ABOUT IT.  THEN, ON TOP OF THAT;  I FIND OUT MY DAD HAD BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE FLUID DRAINED OFF HIS LEFT LUNG.  MY FAMILY KEEPS ME IN THE DARK AND IT HURTS ME AND ANGERS ME.  I HAVE TO FIND OUT AFTERWARDS.  YESTERDAY WAS HARD ENOUGH BECAUSE ONE OF MY KIDS WASN'T ABLE TO CALL ME FROM HEAVEN TO TELL ME HAPPY MOTHERS DAY. 

Tags: POEMS OF THE HURTING HEART

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