Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.
Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."
We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.
We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."
We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.
Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."
Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.
What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.
In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.
Transcript from www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/us/politics/20text-poem.html?r...
Image courtesy : www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/452635/Inaugural_poem_recited...
Growing up in India, I celebrated a lot of festivals Pongal , Ugadi , Holi , Dussera , Diwali. and many others During these festivals special dishes were made, we wore new clothes. We looked forward to other festivals. Friends who celebrated other festivals like Ramzan shared their food and sweets. We look forward to eating the flavorful Biriyani or Hyderabadi Haleem Also exciting was when friends who celebrated Christmas, shared with us cakes and Plum pudding. Today, living in the US, love the period at the end of the year where people of all faiths and religions celebrate the holidays as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and of course as a general term "Holidays". We have a nice Christmas "holiday" tree, the kids enjoy looking forward to Santa's visit and open their presents on Christmas Day. You have to share festivals and appreciate every opportunity to celebrate. What ever you are celebrating this season, Happy Hol...
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