Monday, August 14, 2017

I ink flowers on my hand



i have books to green my soul
        rather than wedding ring
i paint words to spark  
        rather donning colorful dress 

i can be   
more than wheelbarrow, a banyan tree 
more than feathers, an arrow for justice

-untouchable-
I am not, just 
a girl dreaming




Note:   I watched Daughters of Destiny:  The Journey of Shanti Bhavan, on Netflix.  I am blown away by Shanti Bhavan's mission to break the generational poverty in India by taking children as young as 4 or 5 years from the lower caste "Untouchables" and providing them with education and boarding up to college (17 years of care and financial support). More information on this non-profit mission here.  

Posted for D'verse poets Pub - Quadrille hosted by De Jackson.  This is a 44 word post with the word DREAM.

38 comments:

  1. I love this, so much to learn from what can be done if we just want to do it... books more than wheel barrows.

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  2. Pushing on because of the want to do so, sure shows what can be done. Helping out many is sure a feat indeed.

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  3. Sigh. Just fantastic. You had me from the title, and the wheelbarrow stanza leaves me breathless.

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  4. I agree about the title - I was recently served in a shop by a girl with flowers henna-tattooed on her hand. I listened to an interesting programme on the radio this lunchtime about the 'untouchables' and now I would like to see the film 'Daughters of Destiny'.
    I love the lines:
    'i can be
    more than wheelbarrow, a banyan tree
    more than feathers, an arrow for justice'
    and the final lines brought a lump to my throat.

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  5. I can be more...I love the hope and empowerment in this poem. Excellent write Grace.

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  6. Just wonderful. The hope in this poem is beautifully captured.

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  7. untouchable-
    I am not, just
    a girl dreaming
    I admire this, Across the world we should educate our young women regardless of social and economic status.

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  8. So much power in so few words. Fantastic poem.

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  9. It is amazing that we can dream at all. Might as well take advantage of it.

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  10. "I can be an arrow for justice" ... we need so many of those. Beautiful words.

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  11. So much to love about this, Grace, but what caught my poet's heart was this:

    i can be
    more than wheelbarrow, a banyan tree
    more than feathers, an arrow for justice

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  12. A fantastic write indeed Grace.
    Fantastic too that change can change the destiny of those deemed Untouchable.
    Anna :o]

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  13. A very inspiring story and a beautiful quadrille - I especially love 'i can be more than feathers, an arrow for justice'

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  14. Thanks for the reminder that each of us can be part of the solution, can make a difference. Your poem eclipses its parameters & becomes sky writing for every land. I love the CNN Hero series, for good news is harder to find.

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  15. Wonderful lines .... All of us can make a difference to touch other lives.

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  16. I especially like the title and last stanza.

    My oldest is particularly gifted at this --- inking herself. She even has special "tattoo markers."

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  17. Lovely lines of poetry that mean even more with the information you posted. Thanks, Grace.

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  18. I can't get the movie to run. She must be a treasure. Your tribute to her lends much credit where it is due, I'm sure.

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  19. Great work! Take that next step.

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  20. She is not just a girl dreaming, she is making a dream a reality. Thanks for sharing this story Grace.

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  21. Such an incredible cause -- allowing children to dream. Thank you!

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  22. Ah, powerful lines Grace! Wow. And this:

    -untouchable-
    I am not, just
    a girl dreaming

    You end it with a punch!

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  23. I could feel the strength in the speaker before I read on about the documentary. For me the last 3 lines are very touching (wordplay unintended)...

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  24. i have books to green my soul
    rather than wedding ring
    i paint words to spark
    rather donning colorful dress

    this is breathtaking. this is too good. and the story. so inspiring.

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  25. Love how 'i' becomes 'I' along with all the dream come true reality that is to be. A powerful write Grace.

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  26. A worthy mission and wonderful dream!

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  27. Wonderful to learn about this...and yes---she is doing, making strides in change...not just dreaming. Thank you for posting!

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  28. Simply amazing and inspiring. Thank you for sharing her tale.

    Enjoy the rest of your week and here's my new addy:
    Elsie

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  29. I really like that closing stanza, Grace.

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  30. I love the direction you took with dreams. So beautifully worded.

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  31. Lovely. I needed a life affirming lift today, trapped, as I seem to be, in a chilling cycle of Alt Right news clips. Horrible. The things we humans do to each other. It's nice to be reminded there are still angels walking among us. Thanks for this!

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  32. Beautiful words for an infinitely worthy cause. We need more stories like this.

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  33. one can only hope this work continues ~

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