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Ain't That America ... A Poem

I didn't think I would write any more poetry for Hubpages. I don't know the kind of poetry they support or their requirements in terms of length. It's rather confusing. But the other day, a friend asked me what I thought freedom in America meant. I told him that I'd have to get back to him. Then I remembered a road trip I took years ago. This is what I came up with.
From Jersey to Frisco, we roamed.
The days were sinewed and lithe,
Bright as a diamond sun
And no less perfect.
Night followed us like a friend...
Where tomorrow was just a word
And the guileless streams
Of light and rain
Fell straight as pins.
In the roundness of that moment to moment,
Sight and sound became touch,
The gathering of smile and sorrow,
Unmeasured.
Over thousands of miles
Breath joined breath --
Both stranger and friend --
Curious, hopeful and boundless.
Such...is freedom.
'Pink Houses' - John Mellencamp
© Copyright 2013 Genna East All rights reserved.
Comments
nice poem
I love your poem and I hope you keep writing poetry. This is so well done. Freedom is a road trip across America. What you can learn from a trip like that!
You must never think of abandoning talent such as that which is gifted to you in words my dear Genna. As for this delight, I followed your travels and like you amazed by every turn of highway and byway. Is America great, I've traveled your country from one end to the other numbers of times in my past and my breath was taken away often. We are a true melting pot of color, habits, stages of life and friendships. People never fail to amaze my inspirations.
This poem is both heartwarming and poignant, Genna. Your poetry and song choice remind me of a trip I made across country in an eighteen wheeler. Wow. Now you've given me another idea for a hub.
"Of light and rain,
Fell straight as pins."
I love that.
Well written I wish I could create beautiful poems as well as you do.
Hello Genna. A comment led me back to this poetry, and as I read through the introduction I had a question. Are you writing poetry that is not being published? That, to me, would me a crime.
Deep words Genna America has come form far, but seems as though they are going backward just about now and heading in the wrong direction. May God someone how have mercy and show them the light.
Have a splendid afternoon
Very good poetry and that highway reminds me of Georgia! Well traveling it years ago any way. ^
Flowing and conveying a real sense of tangible freedom. Nicely penned.
Your poem gave me goosebumps. What a wonderful way to answer the question. I really like that picture of the the road trip. Great addition to a powerful poem.
Both stranger and friend --
Curious, hopeful and boundless.
Such...is freedom.
This seems to sum up what I thought was he "American Dream"
This is beautiful. And a lovely video.
Awesome poetry and the photo is an absolute stunner.
I enjoyed this thought-provoking read. Glad you shared it here!
Beautiful Excerpt Genna :) Keep up the good works
Wonderful Genna.
Eddy.
I'm glad you decided to write more poetry. The world needs more beauty like this poem. Well done my friend. I have crossed the country four times by car and I never grow tired of the people and sites that make up this country.
Its a shame poetry as well written as this one has to be written only when the thought comes to you.. Im glad you shared it bless you and keep on writing them!!! Frank
Genna, voted up, awesome, beautiful, and shared. Well said, you did great! You can certainly add poetry to your portfolio, very, very good!
From majestic mountains,
To fields of corn,
This is where,
Sweet dreams are formed.
Ribbons of asphalt,
From town to town,
Take us to other dreams,
Profound.
Well I for one, hope that you will keep publishing your work--whether here or elsewhere--your work is always a bright spot for me--beautifully done Genna--
What I really liked about your poem was the plainness of the words mixed with metaphor. Written without an ounce of pretense and your down to earthness in the ‘guileless streams of light and rain fell straight as pins.’ The subtlety in that line floored me it was so good. Excellent job, dear lady.
Dana
Thank you, Genna. My roots are very much in small-town and very rural America. There 'went with' that and those days a pervading sense of what I just call 'decency'. It wasn't something one thought to 'DO', but it was how it was, something that was just part of life. One sees it becoming more and more rare.
Voted up and awesome. Love the pic and the video. Enjoyed this. I'm with Faith. God bless America. Passing this on.
Dearest Genna,
This is superb poetry and so beautiful as to freedom. The song and video are just perfect.
Voted up ++++ and sharing
God bless you and God bless America, Faith Reaper
I loved your poetry Genna. I would love to take a cross-country drive through America again. I wonder if i would enjoy as much as i did in the early eighties? I think people still want the same things, freedom leading the pack. The video is beautiful. Thank you...Hugs
Genna,
This brings tears to my eyes...inspiring, meaningful and poignant.
Voted UP and UABI with the perfect song. Love, Maria
Interesting poem. I especially like the line "Night followed us like a friend." Keep writing!
Hi stranger!
Good work
Bob
What you came up with, Genna, is exceptional poetry and the perfect video to accompany it. Thank you for this treat.
This was beautiful Genna. I think it could easily be put to music as an anthem of what freedom really is. "The gathering of smile and sorrow
Unmeasured." You said it beautifully.
Voted up, awesome, and interesting.
I loved this.
In the roundness of that moment to moment
Sight and sound became touch,
The gathering of smile and sorrow
Unmeasured.
There was no beginning or end where you could touch the country and its residents and the happiness and sorrow of one were not more important than another’s. Beautiful words Geen. It makes me want to be young again and do a cross-country road trip.
You’re not writing more poetry at Hub Pages?
Hi Genna this is such a beautiful written poem and great spirit of america within your poem and a great way to start off July . Well done !
Excellent poetry and more excellent sense of what America really IS, at least as I've known it these many years.
I hope you never relinquish sharing your poetry with us, your fans! Just WRITE and share!! Hugs, your faithful fan - Nellieanna
Genna your timing on this is perfect as we approach the 4th of July. Your words carry an echo as you traveled through this country that was open spaces and clean hearts. Each in our own way traveled those highways together from Jersey to Frisco. Many of us wish we could travel those American highways again. This is a real prize this morning.
Not just in America, but freedom lovers anywhere else in the world would like to feel the "guileless rays of light and rain", hopeful and unfettered. The poem's message is understood by all men of goodwill. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful poem, full of spirit and hopefulness! :)
Truly remarkable Geena.... I am your humble fan if you will have me...:)
Genna, I really like this poem, and great song choice to accompany it.
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