Mother of Exiles, Weeping

image

Liberty Weeping, by Bob Richards

Today, every one of us is trying to figure out how to live with, or through, the results of last night’s election.

I am grateful for the wisdom and support of my family and my community in this dark time, as we grieve and regroup.

My parents raised me up with the greatest respect for our United States of America.  Above all I was taught that our land was a place of refuge for all in need of safety, mercy and protection.

The song that most moved me in our seventh grade chorus was excerpted from a poem by Emma Lazarus called “The New Colossus.”  The poem is below: you can find many sweet versions of the song on Youtube.

Closed golden door,  Atlantic City, 2013

Closed golden door, Atlantic City, 2013

I am so horrified that the mandate from this election is apparently a to close “the golden door,” on immigrants, the poor, disabled, the children, Native Americans, women, the Planet herself.

Our essential, impossible task is to remake America’s original vision. I believe our fatal mistake was the theft of this continent from the peoples who had lived here for thousands of years.  We must remake the vision of our country to make good on that terrible, and ongoing injustice.

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
with silent lips. “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-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

 

 

 

Share On: Facebooktwitterpinterest

Comments

Mother of Exiles, Weeping — 7 Comments

  1. We have dishonored our planet and its peoples for all the time that humans have inhabited this land. The treatment of the native Americans by the European immigrants has been horrific. We r continuing this legacy. We have never lived up to the words on the Statue of Liberty- and I don’t think we ever wanted to do so. I am beginning to believe what my husband has said for years”Human beings will be an unsuccessful parasite.” Our time is limited. The planet will survive- we will not.

  2. The outcome of this election is like a death. Hopefully not the death of our democracy. I’m still in the first stage of grieving, denial. I just can’t wrap my head around our country bebring divided by a platform of hate. We are the ugly American. I’m so sad, friends. I for one need a like-minded community so thank you, Sue. We are all in this together.

  3. I am similarly devastated.Thanks for writing this. I have shared the link with many friends. ❤