Women in Beijing in one September
Women by the thousands
come marching by
to mark history among nations.
Never again should women
be sold, battered and raped.
Never again should girl
fetuses in the mother`s womb
be doomed to death.
Never again should the women`s
spirit be extinquished.
Can a gathering of women
among nations make up a change?
The marching of women
prompts attention -
a human bomb to announce
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poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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The Crowing of the Roosters
Come to the village
and listen to the crowing roosters
up the branches of the trees
announcing the breaking
of a bright new day.
Come to the village
Walk the miles of the road
Have a pause from the roaring buses,
The dazzles on the streets
And the endless list of activities.
Come to the village
And learn from the roosters
Resting on the silent trees
Communing with nature
And speaking to man and woman
The great early morning of peace.
poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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A Good Life
A good life is a song
when melodies are sung
by laughters and smiles.
A good life is a cup of tears
when days are painted
by all sorrow and pain.
A good life is community
when one ceases to be alone
in the sea of love and compassion.
A good life is courage
when the heart of faith
announces the dawning of a new day.
A good life is knowing
the Shepherd who walks with us
even in the valley of death
and brings us to the mountain of safety.
poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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Altars of Man-made Wars
Men have always made altars for themselves:
Herod and the slaughter of the 2- year olds
Landlords and feudalism
Patriarchy and oppression of women
The Army and the Roman Empire
Hitler and Nazism
Mussolini and fascism
Mao Tse Tung and communism
Napoleon and militarism
Saddam Hussein and egoism
Osama bin laden and Islamism
George Bush and the wage against terrorism.
And in all these altars
It is the small children -
sacrificed as living offerings!
poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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Teacher, Teacher
Teacher, teacher, teacher, teach me now
Teacher, teacher, teacher, guide me now
Teacher, teacher, teacher, show the way
You are my light
You are my guide.
Teacher, teacher, teacher, comfort me
Give your listening ears when I cry
Help me find the strength in what I can
You are my help
You are my guide.
Teacher, teacher, teacher, build me up
When I do wrong, show me what is right
Teacher, teacher, teacher, let us laugh
You are my friend
You are my guide.
poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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Let Us Simply Dance
When the day is tainted with sorrow
When the shadow of death walks in
When the notes of would-have-beens
Fill the mind with some regrets,
Please stand up anyway and join the dance.
Listen to the music of joy and hope
Make your feet and body move
Smile at the camera man
Fill the air with the aroma of thanksgiving
For the days that have been lived.
Keep on dancing
Until the music ends
You know that music and our dance
Are in symphony with beginning and end.
poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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I Have Crossed the Mile
I have crossed the mile
With patience and perseverance
I have crossed the mile
pushing beyond my limits
hoping against hope.
I have crossed the mile
Like a crawling snail on a parched land,
I have counted every step
and every second to draw me closer
to the end of the line.
I have crossed the mile
Like a sportsman on a race,
I have run without stopping
gasping for my last breath
yet smiling to discover
that I have crossed the mile.
_______________________
poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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Life`s Polarities
Why is there life?
Why is there death?
Why are there tragedies?
Why are there feasts?
Why is there evil?
Why is there good?
Why is there care?
Why is there neglect?
Why are there memories
Why is there forgetfulness?
Why is there despair
Why is there hope?
Why is there childhood?
Why is there adulthood?
Why is there disease?
Why is there health?
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poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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The Missing Link
I play my guitar
I sing from my heart
and people clap.
There is this short
moment, a moment
of being heard,
a moment of being
valued on the scene.
At the end of the show
people say thanks,
words of appreciation,
words that warm the heart
and elevate the mind.
It is only a brief moment,
a brief moment
of feeling different,
as someone special
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poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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Renewal
Renewed from hatred
that strangulates the flow of love.
Renewed from anger
that bulldozes a mountain of understanding.
Renewed from pain
that shatters the windows of tomorrows.
Renewed from fear
that makes all days to dark nights.
Renewed from despair
that drowns the promise of hope.
Renew us, O Lord, from the malady
of hatred, anger, pain,
fear and despair.
And restore us to the bountiful promise
of strength, joy, faith and service
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poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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