Friday, August 7, 2009

New Verses for "America the Beautiful"

The Sunday Scribblings prompt for this week is "New." For other posts with a "new" theme, click on link above or on the banner.


Have you ever heard a familiar song and suddenly realized that there was a verse that should be there, but that it was missing? These two new verses for "America the Beautiful" are in response to just such a realization on my part.

I wrote the first of these two new verses when a friend pointed out that the original inhabitants of this land were NOT the pilgrims!

This photo of Navahos at Shiprock
was found in Google images.

O beautiful for tribes whose lore
Embraced the buffalo,
Who met the pilgrims at the shore
And gave them corn to grow.

America,America!
Great spirit ease the pain
Of those displaced,
Their past erased
From hogan, woods, and plain.



"from sea to shining sea."
I photographed these Pacific waves
at our family reunion

And this was written in a burst of pure euphoria the day after Obama was elected as future president of this great land. I posted it on this blog at that time, so excuse me for running it by you once again.
O beautiful for rainbow race
for multicolored skin
for outside differences of face
Americans within.
America! America!
where every voice is heard.
We pledge to heed
each anxious need
with deed and work and word!

21 comments:

Stan Ski said...

Thought provoking...

Maggie May said...

Great post, as per usual!
Yes...... though provoking too.

Understanding Alice said...

On the money as ever Granny :)

anthonynorth said...

Great verse - I guess it's the best chance yet.

Americanising Desi said...

an old song with a new verse :D
terrific Granny!

i need your favor over at Tale from the NEW side

I hope I do :)

daria said...

Hello Dear Gigi,
I just posted a little something on my blog today about Grandfather.
http://dariaandandyblog.com/?p=201
I wish I could have been with you all on Wednesday, but you were in my thoughts all day!
I hope to come and visit you next year!!
xoxo

gautami tripathy said...

You really refresh my thoughts..

ravens chase out thoughts from the mind

Sherri B. said...

Beautiful...touching...healing. Thank you for sharing these two great verses!

George S Batty said...

thanks for including the American Indian. Somehow they always are forgotten or overlooked. We still have a lot of atonement to do there.

June said...

Wonderful! Wonderful!
Send those verses to your US representatives!!!

Dee Martin said...

These should be included in the original song - they are awesome as are you!

b+ (Retire In Style Blog) said...

Beautiful...thank you celebrating what our country should be all about. Included in our music and in our hearts.

b

linda may said...

Yes granny sometimes we forget to include things that are relevant and important. You did well
to remind us.

Patois42 said...

Oh, Granny, I am in love with both of those. Wonderful!

Serena Shay said...

Granny - Those are fabulous! How do we go about getting them added for they surely belong with the song!!! :)

Giggles said...

You are truly an amazing human being....but I always knew that!! These two piece gave me goose bumps and almost brought me to tears! My gauge for excellence!! I love them dear lady!!! Thank you for your eloquence with words!

Love and hugs Giggles

ChefDruck said...

What an amazing addition to the National Anthem. And in these amazing times, it could really potentially get added. Beautifully written and truly inspiring.

Bobbie Sandlin said...

*speechless*

I LOVE YOU!!! lmao

I was singing right along and you nailed it so wonderfully...and speaking so MUCH truth. Those verses NEED to be added lol.

*Applauding*

Daily Panic said...

I had a thought about the American indians the other day. I feel a lot was missed by not learning more from them and evacuating them from their own land and life.
Great post!

nonizamboni said...

Perfect additions, my friend. I was just thinking about the buffalo today when I posted for True Colours Thursday...great minds, you know!
Please know you're in my thoughts often.
xxxooo

Keith's Ramblings said...

I think we in the UK could learn a lot from the way your nation shows such love for its country. Such unbridled enthusiasm as you have demonstrated in your post is something rarely seen here. Wonderful!