I pledge allegiance to the Holy Spirit. She whispers our names, calling us to seed and tend to the ever-expanding and interconnecting circles that touch everyone and everything.
Before the local firework display I walked at dusk into the woods with my grandchildren. The fireflies were sparkling in the underbrush- nature's gentle alternative to our human excess. I pledge allegiance to the firefly display.
Mother Earth and all her efforts to heal her land and water and living beings;
My daily rituals of putting fresh water into my bird baths and bird seed onto the ground where birds can nourish themselves and their young;
Fireflies over my native plants just after sunset, and not using pesticides.
Peepers and tree frogs making their sounds after sunset.
Coreopsis and Joe Pye Weed and Butterfly Weed, and Service Berry, and Senna, and Black Eyed Susan, and Eastern Red Bud, and many kinds of goldenrod and asters, all of which are flourishing where my turf grass lawn had been.
Remembering to turn off lights and switch off devices and charger cords when not needed.
Not running water while brushing my teeth and hand-washing dishes; washing clothes in cold water, and using safe laundry and cleaning products.
Spending every dollar I spend at either my local organic farm or my food co-op or a local, family-owned store.
Contributing as much as I am able to the causes I support.
Supporting the local cooperative artist gallery, and the local JazzShares co-operative.
Thank you, Carrie, for reminding us that we are interdependent. We truly rely on each other. Connection, relationships, and community are what is important. I always love your photos. The poem touched my heart. I hear gratitude for what the earth has given us, for the wonder experienced in sprouting seeds and growing plants. May we always keep in mind how what we are doing can affect those 7 generations in the future.
I love that word, “peace building”. To build is, in essence and theory, a positive endeavour. And what is more worthy to build than peace? We all should do more of that. In music, yes, but also in our interactions with people, from loved ones to complete strangers. I firmly believe that from peace grows truly beautiful and fascinating things. Why else are we here?
Thank you so much James! I appreciate your poetry so deeply, a deep bow of gratitude. And I changed it a little for this post...changing the rhythm a little in the middle. Sometimes poems and songs have to settle into what they are :-) and I LOVE that you've referenced the poem for "I pledge alliance" poems!
I'd like to share something I posted yesterday on the social media where most of my family & friends are... I was feeling reluctant to attend the big annual parade in our small town.... So I took inspiration from "Raise the Torch for Liberty Mpls" and chose to attend costumed as the Statue of Liberty, with the ideals posed by Emma Lazarus held closely. Here's the post:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
- Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus"
As I stand here on these ancestral lands, stolen from the Wahpeton, Wahpekute, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ Nations (Dakota & Lakota), I am reminded that we are a nation of immigrants, especially those of us with white-body privilege.
Our nation is marked by many stains over the last 250 years as a nation... but let us not forget: There is more love than hate, more good than evil, more respect for living beings than the calls for destruction. Most of us are trying to help, not harm. Love is often quieter, and hope isn't shiny. But we have stood up to tyranny and injustice before, and we can and must continue.
(+ hashtags acknowledging reverence for Black, Native, Immigrant, and Trans lives)
“… to the future embodied within the potential of my grandson.”
I pledge allegiance to the Holy Spirit. She whispers our names, calling us to seed and tend to the ever-expanding and interconnecting circles that touch everyone and everything.
Before the local firework display I walked at dusk into the woods with my grandchildren. The fireflies were sparkling in the underbrush- nature's gentle alternative to our human excess. I pledge allegiance to the firefly display.
Speaks to my heart!
I pledge my allegiance to:
Mother Earth and all her efforts to heal her land and water and living beings;
My daily rituals of putting fresh water into my bird baths and bird seed onto the ground where birds can nourish themselves and their young;
Fireflies over my native plants just after sunset, and not using pesticides.
Peepers and tree frogs making their sounds after sunset.
Coreopsis and Joe Pye Weed and Butterfly Weed, and Service Berry, and Senna, and Black Eyed Susan, and Eastern Red Bud, and many kinds of goldenrod and asters, all of which are flourishing where my turf grass lawn had been.
Remembering to turn off lights and switch off devices and charger cords when not needed.
Not running water while brushing my teeth and hand-washing dishes; washing clothes in cold water, and using safe laundry and cleaning products.
Spending every dollar I spend at either my local organic farm or my food co-op or a local, family-owned store.
Contributing as much as I am able to the causes I support.
Supporting the local cooperative artist gallery, and the local JazzShares co-operative.
I pledge allegiance to the bold, bright reds, yellows, and blues that spill from blooming planter boxes.
I pledge allegiance to the few but deep words in the lyrics and the Nat King Coke song, Nature Boy, “..and while we spoke of many things
fools and kings
this he said to me,
The greatest thing
you’ll ever learn
is just to love and be loved
in return”
https://open.spotify.com/track/2WMyu5IYgxEuCd6xgFgJrl?si=tBTb3Lg8QL-569RZ4huM2Q
in return
I pledge allegiance to fact-checked journalism, to the truth.
To wisdom and to thinking twice before sharing an opinion.
I pledge allegiance to not harming people on my way.
(I am not sure if these allegiances are grammatically correct—can they refer to verbs as well as nouns—but this is how I see them)
Thank you, Carrie, for reminding us that we are interdependent. We truly rely on each other. Connection, relationships, and community are what is important. I always love your photos. The poem touched my heart. I hear gratitude for what the earth has given us, for the wonder experienced in sprouting seeds and growing plants. May we always keep in mind how what we are doing can affect those 7 generations in the future.
I love that word, “peace building”. To build is, in essence and theory, a positive endeavour. And what is more worthy to build than peace? We all should do more of that. In music, yes, but also in our interactions with people, from loved ones to complete strangers. I firmly believe that from peace grows truly beautiful and fascinating things. Why else are we here?
Yes, this is true...why else are we here. Thank you Gaines.
Of course.. and thank you :-)
I love this poem so much, Carrie, and it has birthed many "I pledge alliance to" poems! It also offers such a rich discussion.
Thank you so much James! I appreciate your poetry so deeply, a deep bow of gratitude. And I changed it a little for this post...changing the rhythm a little in the middle. Sometimes poems and songs have to settle into what they are :-) and I LOVE that you've referenced the poem for "I pledge alliance" poems!
I pledge allegiance to my faithful dog,
who is always hopeful that another walk
can materialize at any time,
that the woods can present tangled paths,
or lead to quiet lakes,
surrounded with the sounds of birds,
that there is no limit to the number of things
that are sniffworthy.
Having a partner who is open-minded
to seeking "the interesting stuff"
is treasured.
(tomorrow's reality will have to wait a day)
Oh Mike, I love this....thank you for posting!
I pledge allegiance to
A toddler’s giggle
The warmth of the sun
The sound of waves on the beach
The wind brushing my skin
And causing the pines to whisper nearby
The song sparrow singing atop
So sweetly
The spirit so full of life and love
In each
ah yes a song sparrow singing atop...so sweetly!
Did you maybe see that one of your quotes made Grateful Living today?
I pledge allegiance to:
Peace in the world and in my heart,
Family in all its forms,
Truth no matter how painful,
Hope when all hope seems lost.
This is beautiful Sandra. thank you so much for sharing.
I'd like to share something I posted yesterday on the social media where most of my family & friends are... I was feeling reluctant to attend the big annual parade in our small town.... So I took inspiration from "Raise the Torch for Liberty Mpls" and chose to attend costumed as the Statue of Liberty, with the ideals posed by Emma Lazarus held closely. Here's the post:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
- Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus"
As I stand here on these ancestral lands, stolen from the Wahpeton, Wahpekute, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ Nations (Dakota & Lakota), I am reminded that we are a nation of immigrants, especially those of us with white-body privilege.
Our nation is marked by many stains over the last 250 years as a nation... but let us not forget: There is more love than hate, more good than evil, more respect for living beings than the calls for destruction. Most of us are trying to help, not harm. Love is often quieter, and hope isn't shiny. But we have stood up to tyranny and injustice before, and we can and must continue.
(+ hashtags acknowledging reverence for Black, Native, Immigrant, and Trans lives)