the stars cry rivers of light
as the moon bows his head
the planet pauses in prayer
a laureate is now dead
words of wisdom were let fly
from the heart of mind and soul
to the pages we now read
in our minds she will forever stroll
a life lived without any fear
as seen in poetry and prize
and the truth of each line
is still in earth, it will rise
from the wisping dust she rose
poverty was the cloak she wore
with the passing of the years
she shredded it off some more
a technicolour warrior for peace
with hope enough for the world
she scribed her name on eternity
in heavens arms she’s curled
so the stars will continue to cry
the moon still bows his head
these prayers will be ongoing
we grieve that a poet is dead
Comments
Dearest Jayne
If this is a tribute to a poet who passed away it indeed is wonderful. I feel this would be much better if a reference to that effect is provided at the start.. I am sure being a rough draft you would be tweaking it up, A few suggestions to improve the meter could be:-
1. You could do away with the first of the 2 "the" in S4 L3
2. An alternative to "technicolor" S5 L1
3. In the concluding stanza you will spot that there is "present" as well as "future" tense. You may therefore want to be consistent about it.
Just a few areas you may want to take a re-look, otherwise this id a wonderful tribute to a poet...unless of course I perceived it incorrectly..
much love n hugz
Dearest Raj
This is a tribute to Maya Angelou she was so many things poetess is just one of them, she passed away last week and I decided to write a small tribute to her I didn't write who it was for when I posted it I sort of thought most poets would know who it was referring to
now to the points you made...
in S4 L3 I agree that one of those 'the's' could be removed I will give it my attention when I get time
the technicolour reference is to Maya's film roles so I feel that its important to leave it as is, now to the present and future in the end stanza I am sort of confused with what you mean I often talk like that, and I wanted to tie the beginning and the end together like the great circle of life...I will wait to read your meaning it maybe I am not getting what your trying to say, I am on a great deal of painkillers at the moment so excuse my confusion lol
much love and hugs Jayne xxx
if I may be permitted to add
moon bows his ???head
moon is generally taken as feminine ...in astrology and normal parlance ..
you may like to reconsider ma'am
pardon my indulgence...
Oh dear Loved
In words the moon can be whatever I want 'him' to be lol....;) its always been the man in the moon for me lovely, I cant see it as a feminine even if the general consensus is that its female this is poetry and we make new worlds out of pens and paper :)
love Jayne xxx
Jayne
Even a poet will not die, they will live for ever in that star wept eternity.
There is a thing in the children's world they call it think, it is a way of communication that is forever, where each thought is formed and sent out, as a poets thoughts.
Thoughts are alive therefore a poet never dies.
I have read this after writing "Shit Happens"
Young lady there are some poets that have to write, and there you are, a job to do, where you have to address many things in poetry for others that think.
One day we will walk on the sea shore and talk of these things, and I have been told, that I will be there many years ahead of you, it is a physical fact, yet as there is no time in that world, it will be an instant to me, when I shall see a Jayne, then I shall know this, as the stars will be shedding tears.
Take care young lady once again a lovely piece of writing.
Yours as always, Ian & the children xx
Dearest Ian
There will be a time and place for us to meet in this world or the next, we will walk the crystal shores and write poetry and laugh and maybe get a little drunk as poets sometimes do lol big smile
I know about the think hun I have read about it so many times there was a time I didn't understand it but I do now, fully...She was an amazing woman and I felt compelled for days to write something so I was sitting in the waiting room at the doctors last week and this was the poem that came out... it just poured out it had been there waiting all week...I wanted to write something to honour her life and her passing... I will probably write something more positive down the track but now is the time for grieving she's such a great loss she wasn't just a poet she was a warrior for peace, an actress and at one time a prostitute and she made no bones about the fact that she one was...I admired her for her spirit and the courage shown rising from the dust of poverty
much love always Jayne xxx
Dear Jayne
Now I see there is hope for little ole me in this and that world lol, I haven't had chance to read any of her work but from her autobiography she seems to be tops and now the Angels of think have another great writer to talk to.
THe walking of the crystal shores young one you will make them I shall have to write of them some time in the near future.
You take care and Go well all the helpers are there with you it's lonely here lol, saying that they always say they can be in several places at one time, I haven't got my think around that yet just the feelings.
Take care young lady, will talk with you later,
Yours as always Ian.Txx
Big Smile...read the stream
Big Smile...read the stream before you go to bed and check for something from me
love always Jayne xxx
Jayne
Looking for something lol. Take care, Yours Ian xx
its there now lol love xxx
its there now lol
love xxx
good reticent of life'
good reticent of life' uncertainty
Thank you Emeka
I am very happy you enjoyed it
love Jayne x
Hi Jayne
Although I haven't read much of her work, I am certainly aware of the magnitude of Maya Angelou's stature in the poetic community. Your poem has done her great honor!
Dearest Lonnie
I really wanted to write something to honour her life and passing she was such a great human being, thank you hun it makes me happy to think I have done her justice
love to you both Jayne xxx
Jayne this is beautiful
Though she is consigned to the earth
her words will never lose their worth
for they are her living memories
her thoughts, art and legacy
let's share her story dear friend
so that we may have again
another warrior for peace for this world
one who may follow her example
hugs and love
Alid
Dear Alid
She was an amazing human being, and she is going to be sorely missed all the good ones are leaving us, its so sad but its life and the circle it has to follow, thank you for the visit I am glad you enjoyed it
hugs and love Jayne xxx
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou:-
Born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928
Passed on to the angels:– May 28, 2014
Maya was an African-American author, poet, dancer, and singer.
Maya published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years.
Maya received dozens of awards and over 30 honorary doctoral degrees.
Maya is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences.
The first, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)," tells of her life up to the age of seventeen and brought her international recognition and acclaim.
Maya became a poet and writer after a series of occupations as a young adult, including fry cook, prostitute, nightclub dancer and performer, cast member of the opera Porgy and Bess, coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and journalist in Egypt and Ghana during the days of decolonization.
Maya was an actor, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs.
From 1982, she taught at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she held the first lifetime Reynolds Professorship of American Studies.
Maya was active in the Civil Rights movement, and worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Beginning in the 1990s, she made around 80 appearances a year on the lecture circuit, something she continued into her eighties.
In 1993, Maya recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at President Bill Clinton's inauguration, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961.
With the publication of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Maya publicly discussed aspects of her personal life, she was respected as a spokesperson of black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of Black culture.
Attempts have been made to ban her books from some US libraries, but her works are widely used in schools and universities worldwide.
Maya's major works have been labeled as autobiographical fiction, but many critics have characterized them as autobiographies.
Maya made a deliberate attempt to challenge the common structure of the autobiography by critiquing, changing, and expanding the genre, her books center on themes such as racism, identity, family, and travel.
Another bright Star is born..
With many thanks to Wikipedia for the bones of her days with us.
Thank you hun
much appreciated
with love always Jayne xxx