A child is not born with such things; they need to be 'taught' prejudice, fear, and hatred.

Your photo speaks volumes, Beth!

We are so often an expression of our culture, and the culture is so often expressed by the wrong people.

Love the message in your poem.

as the daughter of a legal immigrant & the mom of 4 i have so many mixed emotions about this issue.  my mom did not break a law to get here...she & my grandma struggled immensely to do what is right.  but then, in the back of my mind i wonder...what would *i* do for my children if i didn't have the life i do now?  i cannot honestly answer that because i have never been in such shoes.

no matter status, color, etc...etc...we must always remember the *person* & let love be present.

your words are dripping fruit...

lovely poem, photo. thanks for the link.

This is a heart breaking situation, which you have expressed so well in your poem, and highlighted with the picture.

I would be interested to find out what you think of my philosophical/scientific/spiritual take on 'Word', which is also in response to Read Write Poem's metaphysical prompt.

<a href="http://watermaid.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/lets-get-metaphysical/">Let's get metaphysical</a>

I am still up for something along the lines we've discussed. I just need to get NaPoWriMo over.

Powerfully put, I read the link.  It's so important to keep faces and personal stories at the forefront of what is becoming such a huge hot political potatoe world wide.  Two of my friends lost their jobs without any warning this past week. They are Americans who were working for an organisation helping deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic but the Mozambique government said their employer was over their quota of ex-pats allowed per organisation and started fining them 50 000 dollars per expat.    This despite the shortage of qualified doctors in the country.  

This is so powerful!  And the photo adds to it so well.

I followed your link and read the story.  Thanks for adding it!

There are some very sad things about our world. Thank goodness somethings can change.

I guess the bottom line is that we are here and we need to do something about it. Are we human or inhuman? I enjoyed your poem. Thanks.

This picture don't need a words --- just contemplation --- a minute to look inside our own hearts, I believe that change begins with the individual.

I thank you for your kindness, dear Beth, everything turned out all right ... now I can see the forest without being blinded by the trees.

poignant

What an amazing photo - and the frame of words you've created.

Amazing how smart we are and how little we know. Excellent post and photo.

Really a powerful statement-poem.  The Mind that made all this up has been conjured up from our own.  Once again; thanks for the dynamic and fundamental insights, Beth.

I am very careful to remember that I come from a famiily of travellers. Only my native american grandmother can claim this country as her starting place. My other grandparents came from Scotland, Switzerland, and Germany.   Even though they came legally, I know they came for a better life, and isn't that what is happening now?

Thoughtful poem, Beth.

..life keeps on asking questions..waiting for the correct answers..great post & thanks for sharing it ..

powerful words- powerful letters!  Excellent poem and wonderful image.  Very thought provoking!

ok- Beth- trying again to see what I keep doing wrong.  Hope this will link back to my site.  Thanks for letting me know!

You were right Beth, the first stanza of the "The Hound of Heaven" was awesome! I trembled as I read it.

I am working hard on launching a pilot program to test the validity of my Peer Pressure workshop, on one hand I am happy to be working on such a project, on the other hand I haven't had too much time for blogging .. which I so love as a most refreshing and enlighten pastime.

You may email me here: ms.janedoe.tx@gmail.com

Such a heart-wrenching take on the prompt. That story is too typical of too many people in this part of the country.

Hi Beth, I have an interpretation of your two letters being different but it could be wrong.  One has a 'wo' beginning??

Your picture is neat, again differences but more than two letters.

I'm writing from Honfleur, France, tonight.  I should be back to read OSI blogs by sometime next week.

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