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Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

0 posted 2005-09-05 07:47 AM



THE NIGHT THE RIVER CRIED

You split the wide horizons
Dividing east and west
You carved a winding pathway
With sun upon your breast

No wall could ever tame you
No man could change your course
For you’re the queen of rivers
With rainbows at your source

But on that night
I could not sleep
The sea came in
So wild and deep
The river flowed
As waters creep
And in the night I thought I heard
The Mississippi weep

The future of the heartland
Was written on your hand
The fathers of our fathers
Built dreams upon your land

You were the life, the spirit
That helped a man survive
And deep down in the delta
A city came alive

But on that night
I could not rest
My heart was drowned
In helplessness
The storm made waters
Churn and twist
The Mississippi River never
Saw a night like this

From gates of old St Louis
To docks of New Orleans
You’ve been a friend to drifters
And men with golden dreams

Your waters buried Johnstown
And set the levees free
You broke the chains that burdened you
In nineteen ninety-three

But on that night
When no one slept
The river sighed
And waters wept
So free and wild
Throughout the years
But on that night I saw
The Mississippi filled with tears

Elizabeth Santos
September 3, 2005

© Copyright 2005 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
1 posted 2005-09-05 08:09 AM


Elizabeth,
Excellent.

Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
2 posted 2005-09-05 08:11 AM


Tears indeed - This is what it's all about, Liz.  The waters and the earth are one - and they cried a giant tear with all mankind.  This is a wonderful write, m'friend.

Has your phone number changed yet?  Time for a chat...

LoveBug
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697

3 posted 2005-09-05 10:13 AM


Amazing! Its been too long since I've read you! But this is just beautiful and agonizing. Publish!

Love's a lovely lad
His bringing up is beauty
Who loves him not is mad
For I must pay him duty
-Anonymous

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
4 posted 2005-09-05 12:41 PM


Liz...so good to see you, my friend!!  As always, you write with heart and knowledge that few possess!  Please send me your new address and phone number.  
Mysteria
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
5 posted 2005-09-05 12:51 PM



The entire world is crying over this and only you could get to my heart and make it weep "out loud" finally!

Liz, you really have to let us know your phone/computer numbers.  You sweet lady are impossible!  We can't call you, worry, and then you pop up out of no where? Love sent, this was booteeful, and so heartfelt.

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
6 posted 2005-09-05 01:07 PM


LovelyLizzyLady~
This thoughtful penning turned me once again to tears, for in those waters, I lost a friend~

Always good to see you, my friend~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

Email noles1@totcon.com

Tracey
Member Elite
since 2001-08-29
Posts 2808
where insanity meets breeding
7 posted 2005-09-05 01:41 PM


Any words I have cannot do justice to the beauty of this piece, so I will just say thank you for posting this and allowing us to share it.

You can never win or lose
If you don't
Run the race

Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
8 posted 2005-09-05 01:44 PM


Well that was one heckuvva come-back poem, Dear Liz!

Your vividly descriptive poem brings back the horror of Katrina's fury.


Linda

Bodger
Senior Member
since 2005-06-12
Posts 1260
Tolerance for a short time
9 posted 2005-09-05 02:15 PM


Your words need no words from me

Bodger

Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
10 posted 2005-09-05 04:01 PM


~beautiful~ you've penned the weeping of millions in this amazing flow of words

thank you

SmartChick
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081
On A Journey To The Unknown
11 posted 2005-09-05 08:49 PM


This is absolutely beautiful, Elizabeth.
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
12 posted 2005-09-05 09:37 PM


I knew when I clicked in,
I would see depth of all...
You never, ever fail me, Lady Santos!

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
13 posted 2005-09-06 12:51 PM


Nice...James
passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
14 posted 2005-09-06 05:15 AM


I was waiting for something from you on this...

you never disappoint

Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
15 posted 2005-09-06 05:22 AM


Beautiful, from the heart.
latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
16 posted 2005-09-06 05:43 AM


Elizabeth, All good things are worth waiting for.This is a "good thing" you wrote. Beautiful, thank you, martyjo
LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

17 posted 2005-09-06 09:48 AM


I have sorely missed you, and happy to see you back, better then ever...thank you Liz for this wonderfully bittersweet write.

Hugs Lady

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
18 posted 2005-09-06 02:50 PM


And in the night I thought I heard
The Mississippi weep

You heard truely, dear lady. Beautiful write!

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
19 posted 2005-09-06 05:26 PM


Thank you, dear poets fo reading and commenting. This poem is soon to be a song. I apppreciate all of your kind comments
Liz

skyshine
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2002-02-07
Posts 3058
Beneath the northern stars
20 posted 2005-09-14 01:27 AM


This is going to be a song? That's awesome. I think it'll make a good one.

~sky

I hope someday you get the chance to live like you were dying....
~Tim McGraw

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