100 THOUSAND POETS FOR CHANGE

Here is the poem I wrote for our choral reading:

Prayer of 100 Thousand Poets

by Wynne Huddleston

Let our message become
that thing with feathers, spread
wings and soar
around the world.

Let it nest in the breasts
of those who emit
terror, greed, and hatred.

Let our words be crisp
as autumn air, fresh and pure
as a mountain stream should be.

Let our languages blend,
harmonious as colors of a rainbow,
mend the holes in the ozone.

Let our pleas for peace rise
higher than the noise of metal and fire,
end misuse of power.

Let bells of liberty resound
so loudly that shackles are released
from hands and feet.

Let our caring discover
a way to cease poverty,
drug abuse, hunger and disease.

Let not politics, race, religion,
or money override regard for mankind,
the future of Earth and all life therein.

May these poetic wishes fall
like lovely colored leaves, stick
on the soles of shoes, and be spread
wherever they tread.

© Wynne Huddleston

To read more poems concerning the themes of 100 TPC please click here

A Decade Since...Don't Forget

A Decade Since

by Wynne Huddleston

Don't forget the horror

Don't forget the tears

Don't forget the despair

although it's been 10 years.

Don't forget the men and women

who sacrificed their lives

to save someone else's daughters,

and sons or husbands and wives.

But we must remember this—

how quickly we joined as one

in grief and anger and love

fighting through fire and stone

to rescue and comfort each other.

Boundaries of politics, race

and religion all disappeared

in the dust of this gray place.

We raised our flag and our voices here

where two tall towers had stood

America breathed and grieved

as one in love and brotherhood.

Mourning, she buried the dead,

counted the injured and lost.

Then swiftly lifted up her head

and vowed no matter the cost

such evil, viscious acts of terror

on American soil could never,

WOULD never

again be allowed to occur.

 ☸ڿڰۣ—

© Wynne Huddleston

Sept. 11, 2011

I was just moved to pen this poem. I'm sure I'll change some things, but wanted to post it in remembrance for this day of sorrow. Please do not copy it, but feel free to share the link to it. Thanks!

Our elementary honored first responders and the military for the10th anniversary of  9/11.  The shadowy figure is eerily symbolic.

the old flag is taken down

the new flag unfolded

the new flag raised

Sadden

Dead

Sad

End

Send

Dad

Sea

And

Sand

Den

Steve Forbert and Webb Wilder at Sucarnochee Revue

I was fortunate enough to see Nashville "swampadelic" Webb Wilder (hometown Hattiesburg, MS) and Meridian, MS' own Steve Forbert in concert at the historic Temple Theatre during September's Sucarnochee Revue. This is the first one I've attended in which host Jacky Jack White did not perform, but he was on hand with his usual charming jokes. Webb Wilder's first album, It Came From Nashville, was released in 1986. I'm afraid I didn't get the names of the songs but there was a wide variety of styles. Perhaps someone will fill me in. I liked the slower tunes and the oldie by Jimmy Swan, who would have been my cousin's father in law, were he living. Here is Wilder's Human Cannonball.

Wilder stayed to sign CDs and pose for pictures with annoying fans like me : )

Webb Wilder and Wynne

Steve Forbert formerly known as "Little Stevie Orbit" was heralded by Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry as one of the city's own. Two other Meridianites played with Steve: Clay Barnes, a great guitarist who goes way back with Steve, and young Adam Box on drums. Kenny Ames was the bass player, and, although it was his first time to play with the group, and the others two had not played a lot with him, but you never would have known it; they were great! Forbert's unique, hoarse, seductive voice filled the auditorium with several songs from his album the American in Me-- Baby Don't, Responsibility, When the Sun Shines, and You Cannot Win 'Em All. The lyrics are Bob Dylan-Woodie Guthrie American storytelling at its finest, i.e.On the Streets of this Town. Responsibility tells the story of the middle class man who wishes for time to "stop and smell the roses" but is far too busy working to make ends meet. Set the World Ablaze, released May 2011, is protest about the 2008 financial meltdown.


You sell investors bags of bungles,
Some stuff you know is bound to fail,
And then make bets against the bundles
So you win big behind the veil! 


You've set the world ablaze 
So give yourself a raise



Add the folksy harmonica and there you have it--American as apple pie. Forbert varied the tempo with an acoustic set with just Clay and Steve on guitars. Of course there had to be some Jimmie Rodgers, the "father of country music" who is also from Meridian. Steve brought out Jimmie's priceless museum guitar (the one that says "Thanks" on the back) and played "My Carolina Sunshine Girl," "My Blue-Eyed Jane" and the hilarious "In the Jailhouse." The concert got rockin' with Born to Be Wild, as well as a version of Jailhouse Rock that "Elvis never did." And yes, he did perform "Romeo's Tune" his song that hit the Billboard Hot100 Chart at #11 in 1980. Forbert was nice enough to stay after the concert to sign CDs and he even posed for pictures!

Wynne and Steve Forbert

Steve Forbert signing CD

Concert goers were given copies of this month's beautiful Legends Magazine with Meridian's lovely Sela Ward gracing the cover. For more pictures from this special Wilder/Forbert Sucarnochee Revue, please see Legend's facebook page.