Happy Independence Day to all of my friends and family that celebrate!
Seeing Lady Liberty in the New York harbor stirs many emotions in my heart.
This sight greeted us as we returned from our voyage recently. The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus is inscribed on her pedestal is befitting of the hope of our nation.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Happy Independence Day to you and your family too. Martha Ellen.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing those beautiful words engraved on the Pedestal upon which Lady Liberty stands. such a powerful poem indeed. Yet how many of us know anything more than just those few keywords, Give me your tired your poor. your huddled masses, when there is a powerful story written around them.
Deb, Emma Lazarus' words are quite stirring and so fitting for Lady Liberty. She wrote this poem to raise money for the building of the pedestal upon which the statue rests.
DeleteThese are wonderful words of hope and welcome! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAren't they? Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteBeautiful photos. Happy Independence Day to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteHappy Independence day to you and yours, Ellen!
DeleteHappy 4th Martha Ellen! What a grand photo. So glad my friend is back blogging again. Your sincere posts are heartwarming. : )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Thank you, dear Sheri. I appreciate your friendship and kind words. Happy 4th!
DeleteAn amazing sight to greet you home Martha Ellen, and a marvelous post to celebrate this special day. Happy 4th of July to you and your family my dear friend.
ReplyDeleteDenise, my heart was and is full of emotions at the sight of Lady Liberty. Thank you, dear one, for your wishes. I hope you and your family enjoyed a happy day of Independence celebrations.
DeleteWonderful picture of Lady Liberty.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Betsy! The Queen Mary 2 docks right across from the glorious Statue of Liberty. It's a wonderful welcome home.
DeleteI love this poem. We used to sing this in high school choir but the choir director never told us what it was -- I found out much later!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, that is great! I've never heard it sung, so now I must look up the sheet music and hear it online. It's surprising that your director never mentioned where it originated.
DeleteHappy July! Hope you had a Happy 4th Celebration. Lady Liberty is always a favorite sight to see and Ema Lazarus's poem is very meaning full today as it was in the past. We were at a community barbecue at my son and daughter-in-law's house--lots of goof food and fun!
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, it's lovely to read your comment this evening. You are so right about these words being meaningful today! It sounds like you enjoyed a lovely 4th at your son's home. Since we have been gone for 5 months we had a quiet celebration at home.
DeleteI have a special connection to Lady Liberty as my grandfather entered the United States from Hungary in 1906 through Ellis Island. We visited it in the 1997 but didn't go up into the crown because the line was too long. Little did we know 4 years later the crown would be permanently closed because of security concerns after 9/11. Eerily, my film camera was acting up and the roll of film was double exposed. There is a ghostly photo of me and my boys standing in front of the Statue with the twin towers superimposed behind us.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful connection to you and your family, Cathy! So many souls came to America with hopes and dreams of a better life. Many were turned back home if they didn't meet the criteria of the officers and doctors. Your photo sounds very eerie and telling of the future. I understand the crown is open now, but tickets must be secured. Also there is no elevator, so one must be capible of climbing the many stairs.
DeleteStopping by to wish you happy July days.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Happy July days to you, Jan!
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