Amanda  Gorman

                            

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                         The  Hill  We  Climb

                            

                            When day comes we ask ourselves,

                            where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

                            The loss we carry,

                            a sea we must wade

                            We've braved the belly of the beast

                            We've learned that quiet isn't always peace

                            And the norms and notions

                            of what just is

                            Isn’t always just-ice

                            And yet the dawn is ours

                            before we knew it

                            Somehow we do it

                            Somehow we've weathered and witnessed

                            a nation that isn’t broken

                            but simply unfinished

                            We the successors of a country and a time

                            Where a skinny Black girl

                            descended from slaves and raised by a single mother

                            can dream of becoming president

                            only to find herself reciting for one

                            And yes we are far from polished

                            far from pristine

                            but that doesn’t mean we are

                            striving to form a union that is perfect

                            We are striving to forge a union with purpose

                            To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and

                            conditions of man

                         

                            And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us

                            but what stands before us

                            We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,

                            we must first put our differences aside

                            We lay down our arms

                            so we can reach out our arms

                            to one another

                            We seek harm to none and harmony for all

                            Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:

                            That even as we grieved, we grew

                            That even as we hurt, we hoped

                            That even as we tired, we tried

                            That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious

                            Not because we will never again know defeat

                            but because we will never again sow division

                            Scripture tells us to envision

                            that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree

                            And no one shall make them afraid

                            If we’re to live up to our own time

                            Then victory won’t lie in the blade

                            But in all the bridges we’ve made

                            That is the promised glade

                            The hill we climb

                            If only we dare

                            It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,

                            it’s the past we step into

                            and how we repair it

                            We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation

                            rather than share it

                            Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy

                            And this effort very nearly succeeded

                            But while democracy can be periodically delayed

                            it can never be permanently defeated

                            

                     

                            In this truth

                            in this faith we trust

                            For while we have our eyes on the future

                            history has its eyes on us

                            This is the era of just redemption

                            We feared at its inception

                            We did not feel prepared to be the heirs

                            of such a terrifying hour

                            but within it we found the power

                            to author a new chapter

                            To offer hope and laughter to ourselves

                            So while once we asked,

                            how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?

                            Now we assert

                            How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?

                            We will not march back to what was

                            but move to what shall be

                            A country that is bruised but whole,

                            benevolent but bold,

                            fierce and free

                            We will not be turned around

                            or interrupted by intimidation

                            because we know our inaction and inertia

                            will be the inheritance of the next generation

                            Our blunders become their burdens

                            But one thing is certain:

                            If we merge mercy with might,

                            and might with right,

                            then love becomes our legacy

                            and change our children’s birthright

                            So let us leave behind a country

                            better than the one we were left with

                            Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,

                            we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one

                            We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,

                            we will rise from the windswept northeast

                            where our forefathers first realized revolution

                            We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,

                            we will rise from the sunbaked south

                            We will rebuild, reconcile and recover

                            and every known nook of our nation and

                            every corner called our country,

                            our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,

                            battered and beautiful

                            When day comes we step out of the shade,

                            aflame and unafraid

                            The new dawn blooms as we free it

                            For there is always light,

                            if only we’re brave enough to see it

                            If only we’re brave enough to be it

                         

spirit  of  the  blessingway

may the long time sun of the great mysterious

shine

eternally pure

with crystal radiance

both upon you and through you

to the singing earth

and to all the people of the earth

if i did not think it was important to be here

i would not be here

this is the time

this is the place

this is the most important place to be

this is the place

we are here

we are the ones who are here now

at the opening of this new cycle

we are the people

we are the ones who were sent

we are the ones who came

there is no other

look around you and remember

each of you

your own individual story

remember the wonder of the magic that drew us together

which has sustained us to this day

through adversity and serendipity

remember the magic that moves you

it brought you and it brought us to this very hour

remember the generosity of this day

remember the splendor of this place

and above all

remember the power that opened this cycle

we are here and we witness one another remembering

consider for a moment

how it is that all cycles have a beginning and an ending

when the day comes for this cycle to draw to a close

as all cycles do

they open and they close

when the day comes for this cycle to draw to a close

remember

remember

the magic which graciously opened this cycle for all of us

and remember

the generosity of this day and this place

and allow it to close in the spirit of this same gracious magic

notice

notice

the creator’s generous provision for the gracious opening and closing of every cycle

notice

how the past and the future are both with us and before us

here and now

this is the sacred time

this is the sacred place

and we are here

we are the people

we are the people

who came to be here at the opening of this cycle

we will remember this place and this time

and we will remember this generosity

we can rely on the enduring nature of this love

now passing between us

— which is the creator’s generous way —

to nourish and sustain

to the end

and in this beginning

beloved

in the spirit of the blessingway

may the long time sun of the great mysterious

shine

eternally pure

with crystal radiance

both upon you and through you

to the singing earth

and to all the people of the earth

david barnes

our friendship is sound

 our  friendship  is  sound

you spoke

and i heard

and i knew instantly

that i knew you 

when i heard

that guileless tone i love

borne on the swelling rhythms of your breath 

my soul leaped

into the air

and kicked his heels

in exaltation 

and i entered more fully into this body

and rushed eagerly to meet you

cells dancing

in ecstasy 

and for one moment

my heart rested upon your heart

grateful for the blessing 

and now i know

our friendship is

sound

listen

  © db

The  Focus  of  Enlightenment

Martin Cecil  September 9, 1979

The real state of man is the enlightened state. In order for a change of consciousness to come a focus of the enlightened state of consciousness must emerge into expression within the darkened state of consciousness. “Let there be light.” This focus of enlightened consciousness emerging into the darkened state of human consciousness initiates the creative cycle by which all things are made new. Here is something new present within the range of that darkened state that wasn’t there before.

There is a vast difference between the true state of enlightened consciousness and the little attempts in the darkened state to produce light, to make some dazzle in the darkness. Here is an indication of the real quality of stature that is present by reason of the focus of enlightened consciousness. The darkness comprehends not the light. It is only when all the clouds are dissipated that the enlightened state of consciousness can occupy the human capacity which had previously only known the darkened state. The light comes into the world, within the range of the darkened human state of consciousness, from above. There is no way by which it may be produced from below, which is the effort that has been made in this darkened condition of human experience. “Let us generate some dazzling darkness”—what futility! If there seems to be the ability to make this attempt it is merely because a faint glow has filtered through the thick clouds from above, so that those concerned are acquainted with the possibility of light.

As was said long ago by the One who brought that focus of enlightenment into the world, “I am the way.” There is only one way. We do not know what that way is until we reach a point where we discover that “I am the way.” Here is the enlightened state of consciousness beginning to come into the world. It isn’t produced by anything that human beings can do in the darkened state. It comes from above. It doesn’t happen because human beings try to be good, try to conform to some code of ethics, try to fulfil the rules and regulations drawn up by some religious or political body. Here is something that is coming into the world because there are those who are in position to let their hearts be purified sufficiently so that it happens. The state of enlightenment is then present in the darkness. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness comprehendeth it not. We find this to be very largely the case. But our concern is to let this enlightened state, in its focused essences, emerge into the level of earthly consciousness, into the level where heretofore it has been dark. This emergence is as the sun shining in his strength. There is no comparison possible between the little matches struck by the human intellect and the shining of the sun. Here is the real stature, dwarfing into nothingness all the supposed dazzling brilliance of the human intellect and its great achievements. How many would be willing to acknowledge this as being so? Precious few.

We become aware of the nature of the responsibility which we carry and of the stature which is known as we carry that responsibility. Jesus knew what He was talking about. He knew far more than He was able to say. He could have provided all that was necessary to permit the enlightened state of consciousness to be restored on earth if He had been allowed to do it. He had the stature. He had the ability—but this is something that could not be imposed upon human beings, and yet it set the stage for the inevitable fulfilment with which we are now associated. It is now absolutely inevitable, and it may be said that human beings, all, must reach a point where they either take it or leave it. That much choice is still there. But what is to happen will happen, whether anyone likes it or not, and we find ourselves in our own experience increasingly associated with this sense of inevitability.

Just provide the focus of enlightenment. Bring that enlightened state of consciousness into the world, and it is this focus which is the essential requirement for the inevitable fulfilment of what it is that is happening on earth. This obviously is something that has never occurred before—it is without precedent. We see little hints in the past, when it could have occurred, but it never did. Now it comes to a point where it inevitably must occur; there is no more time. Time shall be no more; there is a cutoff point. While time periods in the cosmic sense may be seen to be vast, and this time period relative to what has been happening in human experience to be quite short, nevertheless it can’t be allowed to continue forever. There is a cutoff point: thus far and no further. And we approach that cutoff point.

If we actually do participate in the focus of enlightened consciousness it is natural for us to rejoice: “Rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.” But woe unto the earth, woe unto the darkened state, because the darkness is being dissolved. The darkness goes automatically when the light is brought; and we share this responsibility in these days, and in the days to come. This is the reason for our presence on earth. The light is come. Acknowledge it and let it be so in your momentary experience.

Behold, the focus of enlightened consciousness is in the world. And there is a remarkable transformation. The sounding of the Tone is loud and clear; and because of that the remnant hear and come home. And behold, as they come home they are transformed also. And the glory of the Lord shines round about in the fulfilment of the purposes of God in the restoration of man to this true state of man. Glory to God in the highest! Holiness to the Lord!