Train Ride to Hope(An Inauguration Day Poem)© J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford
A 7:30 A.M. train rideInaugurated by a commemorative fare cardBearing the likeness of a manWho believed in hope and changeMaybe the time had comeFor a nation whose yesterdaySpurned right at its own perilA nation that, despite dreams and visionsProclaimed before broad witness in light of dayRejected truth 'til civil disarray Dictated that only change could counter catastrophePerhaps this would be the train ride To usher that nationTo the dawn of a new day A sea of humanityLike ants, satellite images would depict dotsBlurred into huddles to become muddled massesI was proud to be one of the millionsKnowing I had neither ticket nor hope of Seeing anything more than jumbotrons I trudged onUnder the 3rd Street tunnelLoosing, early in the day, Beverly and Jayne, My comrades in armsBut I moved onThis is my hometown, I know this placePlacing phone calls of reassurance When intermittent phone service allowedI pressed onMoving from one undesignated Vantage point to anotherBoth the Blue Gate and the Silver Capital viewing areaWere inaccessibleBut how could they close The MallThe entire Mall? But my guardian angels were on it!Like the pride, yearning and desperate belief Of all who withstood the frigid coldEven the batteries of Chicky’s hand-held Neon orange radio knew not to fadeSylvia’s ungloved hand must have been frozen As she held the small prize just above our headsStanding behind me Jasmine asked if I could Move just a bit to the side So she too could hear We each prayed for a clear signalSylvia said a glove would restrict digital dexterityAs she deftly rotated the dial with precision Not chancing to miss a single word That would mark this moment in history So it was to beThis anointed neon orange electronic deviceClearly appointed by Divine providenceTo appear next to meWhether held in Sylvia’s hand or God’sDid the job of unseen jumbotrons The four of us fellowshipped and communedWe were from DC, Colorado and TexasSisters of different generations and racesSilently sharing tears as Aretha sangSharing hugs and hopes as we listenedTo introductions, oaths and speeches Believing the words we heardOn a small radio would take usBeyond Metro stops, Malls and trainsKnowing that on this day Hope had transported a people To a place where they believedThat the time for change had come
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Please join us!
Poets and Artists for Obama is hosting its 3rd fundraiser on Sunday, October 26th at the new (City Vista) Busboys and Poets. Please join us at Busboys and Poets, located at 1025 5th St., N.W., Washington, DC, where our featured poet will be Jason Reynolds. Bring a group of friends to support this important event. This is our final fundraiser before the election. There is a $20 minimum donation at the door.
Please show your support and:
1. Visit the official Obama web site, get all the details, then register to attend this fundraiser at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gshw2t 2. If you are unable to attend on October 26th, or if you simply prefer to make an on-line donation, you may make your donation at the above-listed web site.
3. Forward this email and the attached flyer and poster to friends, family and on-line contacts and encourage them to support Barack Obama by attending this fundraiser.
4. Join us on Sunday, October 26th at the new (5th & K Sts., NW, DC) Busboys and Poets Restaurant for Poetry, Art and more...
5. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4TH! Blessings,Sistah Joy, Brenardo, Larry, Kevin and PatPoets and Artists for Obama"The meaning of life is to give life meaning." (Author Unknown)
Greetings all,
Please view the video below (We are the Ones) and see some of the reasons some of us are supporting Barack Obama. We hope you will join us in our support for Obama by attending Poets and Artists for Obama, a fundraiser that will take place at Annie's Art Gallery, (5814 Allentown Way, Camp Spring, MD 20748) on Saturday, June 28th, from 6 until 9 PM .
There will be poetry, music, art, food and more! Poets, musicians and artists will express their support for Barack Obama at this event, which in addition to a fundraiser for the Obama campaign, is a "United for Change" event. Even if you can not to be with us due to previous commitments or personal conflicts, we hope that you will encourage at least one person to support Obama, either by attending Poets and Artists for Obama or by supporting another Obama event that you organize. There are many different types of Obama support events taking place all over the country. This is truly a time for change. We hope you will become part of this movement to unite our country and empower her citizens. As is said in the video below, "We are the ones we've been waiting for!"
"We Are The Ones" video: http://www.dipdive.com/dip-politics/wato/
**Register to attend Poets and Artists for Obama: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4pvf
We hope to see you on Saturday, June 28th at Annie's Art Gallery
Blessings,
Sistah Joy
Poets and Artists for Obama
I am thrilled to be part of history by helping to bring Barack Obama to the White House. On May 6, 2008, I participated in my first Obama fundraiser, Art for Obama, at Parish Gallery in Georgetown (Washington, DC). That evening I supported the fundraiser hosted by Bruce McBarnette, and gallery owners, Norm and Gwen Parish, who helped raised funds for the Obama for America campaign through Arts for Obama. I was extremely honored to share my poetry and make my first campaign contribution at the event. That experience inspired me to want to do more. I have since contacted Camp Springs, Maryland-based Annie's Art Gallery, the family-owned and operated gallery where I serve as Poet-in-residence. I have also reached out to my fellow poets, Andre "Brenardo" Taylor and Pat Smith. We have agreed to present "Poets and Artists for Obama," a fundraiser that will take place from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at Annie's Art Gallery, 5814 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748. We are very happy to be partnering with gallery owners, Leon Durham and Kevin Hicks to present this fundraiser. We pray that our efforts to support the Obama for America campaign will contribute in a meaningful way to help Barack Obama become the next President of the United States. We, of Poets and Artists for Obama, as artists of conscience, recognize Barack Obama as the visionary who has been given a supreme privilege, one that carries with it the ultimate responsibility for the healing, both politically and holistically, of this nation. We believe our trust is well-founded and stand ready to do our part as citizens working to make change that gives hope and opportunity to all Americans.Please join us for Poets and Artists for Obama on June 28th and also share this blog link with your on line friends.
