Sunday, November 3rd, 2024

Poems: by Pastor Brendan Curran and Terri Wyborny
“Remember” by Joy Harjo (1951)
Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star’s stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother’s, and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,
listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember.
Our Ancestors - by Jim Yerman
He was standing in a silent, peaceful protest.
His wish…for everyone to be free.
when he found himself locked arm in arm
with a man much older than he.
They stood together…in protest
Their shared wish…for everyone to be free.
Hoping this demonstration would help restore
some of their country's character and dignity.
When the demonstration was over
their peaceful message having been sent
the younger man looked to the older man
and shared this compliment.
"It's wonderful that you were here, " he said.
"to help our peaceful message spread".
The old man smiled…then chuckled to himself
"I had no choice." he said.
"I was content to stay home.
to ignore the injustices…
to stay mum…
Until my ancestors came and reminded me
of all the reasons I had to come."
"My ancestors reminded me I don't do this for myself
but for all my ancestors who will outlive me…
And if I didn't do this…my ancestors told me
then my ancestors would never forgive me."
There is a reason we protest injustices
There is a reason not to stay mum:
For all our ancestors who have come before us
and our ancestors still to come.