Sacred Songs Once Sung (see notes)
Contributions From Our Immigrant Artisans42 total reviews
Comment from Sherman541
I so understand what you say about a tear down society, some building cannot be saved, but then I believe they should be made into replicas. Matching exactly the building that is being torn down. Preserving the ones that can be. I think you wrote a very great tribute. Sherman541
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
  |
I so understand what you say about a tear down society, some building cannot be saved, but then I believe they should be made into replicas. Matching exactly the building that is being torn down. Preserving the ones that can be. I think you wrote a very great tribute. Sherman541
Comment Written 11-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Thank you very much Sherman. tom
Comment from Sis Cat
Yes.
I read your poem, walked away to sort through the clothes in my closet for a Goodwill donation, and thought about all of the immigrants who built the beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area where I live--the Irish, the Chines, the Mexicans, the Japanese, the Italians, the African Americans who descended from slaves. There is not a single monument (if it still stands) in the Bay Area that was not touched by the skilled and loving hands of immigrants.
Pausing sorting through my closet, I returned to read your poem a second time. It was a revelation as you praised the immigrants'
. . . ancient skills of vision
Were a call to sanctify
The soul without derision
And without an alibi.
You know, you cannot replicate the work of the immigrants. Whenever one wants to build an authentic Japanese tea house, an Italian chapel, or a Mexican hacienda, we have to import workers from those countries because Americans have forgotten the crafts of the old world as we rush to build the new:
They break and tear away another's dreams
As hopes of men are sadly turned to dust,
While wrecking balls, beleaguered by their schemes,
Have raped and scourged a solemn promised trust:
Yes, I feel that the souls of these forgotten workers in the monuments they left behind. I feel the Chinese in the tracks, the Italians in the bridge, the Welsh in our tunnels:
Their souls are seared inside blue-steel
Now bound with mortar to the stones.
You moan:
Their monuments now battered
Into shards of shattered glass
This is a central passage of praise:
'Twas genius of those immigrants;
In death how proud they stand,
Their contributions prominent
In this, their chosen land.
You conclude with this advice for our present generation:
The past should be protected by the present to provide
A living link to history that unifies the whole.
Your message resonated powerfully with me. Given that immigrants are often maligned in today's hotly political world, we have forgotten that we came from immigrants, too.
Thank you for sharing your glowing tribute.
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
Yes.
I read your poem, walked away to sort through the clothes in my closet for a Goodwill donation, and thought about all of the immigrants who built the beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area where I live--the Irish, the Chines, the Mexicans, the Japanese, the Italians, the African Americans who descended from slaves. There is not a single monument (if it still stands) in the Bay Area that was not touched by the skilled and loving hands of immigrants.
Pausing sorting through my closet, I returned to read your poem a second time. It was a revelation as you praised the immigrants'
. . . ancient skills of vision
Were a call to sanctify
The soul without derision
And without an alibi.
You know, you cannot replicate the work of the immigrants. Whenever one wants to build an authentic Japanese tea house, an Italian chapel, or a Mexican hacienda, we have to import workers from those countries because Americans have forgotten the crafts of the old world as we rush to build the new:
They break and tear away another's dreams
As hopes of men are sadly turned to dust,
While wrecking balls, beleaguered by their schemes,
Have raped and scourged a solemn promised trust:
Yes, I feel that the souls of these forgotten workers in the monuments they left behind. I feel the Chinese in the tracks, the Italians in the bridge, the Welsh in our tunnels:
Their souls are seared inside blue-steel
Now bound with mortar to the stones.
You moan:
Their monuments now battered
Into shards of shattered glass
This is a central passage of praise:
'Twas genius of those immigrants;
In death how proud they stand,
Their contributions prominent
In this, their chosen land.
You conclude with this advice for our present generation:
The past should be protected by the present to provide
A living link to history that unifies the whole.
Your message resonated powerfully with me. Given that immigrants are often maligned in today's hotly political world, we have forgotten that we came from immigrants, too.
Thank you for sharing your glowing tribute.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
And thank you for a fantastic review my friend. tom
Comment from Ulla
Hi there, first of all, I would like to say that you've written an impressive poem. Yes, I feel very strongly about this. History is very important and must not be destroyed. Our history is part of who we are and have become, and it must never be forgotten, You've create a lovely piece of work. All the best. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
 |
Hi there, first of all, I would like to say that you've written an impressive poem. Yes, I feel very strongly about this. History is very important and must not be destroyed. Our history is part of who we are and have become, and it must never be forgotten, You've create a lovely piece of work. All the best. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 11-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
I am very honored Ulla. Thank you so very much for this exceptional review. tom
Comment from Winslow
Dear Easy,
Yes we are a throw away society where people no longer see the grandeur of the past. Where pursuit of money makes us vile. Quite a poem.
Warm regards,
Winslow
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
Dear Easy,
Yes we are a throw away society where people no longer see the grandeur of the past. Where pursuit of money makes us vile. Quite a poem.
Warm regards,
Winslow
Comment Written 11-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Thank you Winslow. tom
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Protecting our history is so important and there is so much of it in England and in Europe, conserving our past helps us to deal with the future, a wise and interesting write, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
Protecting our history is so important and there is so much of it in England and in Europe, conserving our past helps us to deal with the future, a wise and interesting write, love Dolly x
Comment Written 11-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Thank you so much Dolly. tom
Comment from Roxanne56
I enjoyed reading your homage to our Immigrants. It is important to know how this land was built as it is also important to SEE it. Too quickly we are ready to tear down something we think is old and have no value, just to put up something new, modern and for profit. Everything that glitter is not gold.
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
I enjoyed reading your homage to our Immigrants. It is important to know how this land was built as it is also important to SEE it. Too quickly we are ready to tear down something we think is old and have no value, just to put up something new, modern and for profit. Everything that glitter is not gold.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Thank you very much Roxanne for this truly fine review. I am honored. tom
Comment from robina1978
A long but interesting and original poem. It rhymes well and has varying meter. That is a nice idea. I first though you wrote about the artist, but you end with immigrants. Or I had it wrong.
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
A long but interesting and original poem. It rhymes well and has varying meter. That is a nice idea. I first though you wrote about the artist, but you end with immigrants. Or I had it wrong.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Thank you robina. Most honored. tom
Comment from N.K. Wagner
Architectural history is the most enduring path through the history of human thought. We carve our experience and aspirations in stone. It's a travesty to tear down the past, assigning our stories to oblivion. In doing so,bee lose a sense of who we are. We'll done! :) Nancy
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
Architectural history is the most enduring path through the history of human thought. We carve our experience and aspirations in stone. It's a travesty to tear down the past, assigning our stories to oblivion. In doing so,bee lose a sense of who we are. We'll done! :) Nancy
Comment Written 11-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Thank you very much Nancy. tom
Comment from Mustang Patty
Hi, Tom;
I have to agree with you. When in Europe, you are surrounded by rich history. No one seems to worry about the time period or the times a piece was wrought from - I am so sad to see monuments and statues taken down in our country.
~patty~
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
|
Hi, Tom;
I have to agree with you. When in Europe, you are surrounded by rich history. No one seems to worry about the time period or the times a piece was wrought from - I am so sad to see monuments and statues taken down in our country.
~patty~
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
-
Hi Patty. I think the duality of money as an intrinsic tool utilized for good and common cause and also used and abused out of individual
profit motives related to obvious greed is a true moral conundrum. I've seen here in my home base many of the old yet
meaningful, artistic and
visually beautiful structures torn down and replaced with cookie-cutter, non-appealing monstrosities for the profits a new but lifeless edifice generates for a small group of people, if not a single person with access to large sums of financial assets. Great review Patty and I thank you for the read and commentary. Take care friend. tom
Comment from dejohnsrld (Debbie)
Oh, I so agree with this. It is such a shame to destroy what little is left of our history. Once gone, it can never be brought back. I live in a house built in 1885, and wouldn't trade it for a new one. It has character unlike the boxes they assemble today and call houses. Great writing, my friend~Debbie
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
|
Oh, I so agree with this. It is such a shame to destroy what little is left of our history. Once gone, it can never be brought back. I live in a house built in 1885, and wouldn't trade it for a new one. It has character unlike the boxes they assemble today and call houses. Great writing, my friend~Debbie
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
-
I agree with you Debbie. We cannot replace beauty and thoughtful application of artists with todays lackluster vision and both gov. and corporate restrictions. Thank you for this generous reward and for the commentary Debbie.
Take care friend. tom
