Saturday, June 7, 2014

SKELETONS IN MY CLOSET by Celine Leduc June 7 2014

SKELETONS IN MY CLOSET by Celine Leduc June 7 2014

Skeletons are in my closet
At night they haunt my dreams
As a child I could hear their screams.
As an adult I want to know!
Who are the skeletons in my closet?

Partial history teaches, tales of grandeur
Epic tales of gentlemen who were not so gentle.
Partial history is without empathy and equals bias.
His story favors him and disenfranchises “the” other.
Skeletons in my closet rattle to my heartbeat.

My heart races, beats faster and faster in fear.
In fear of being “outed” and ousted from family.
The fear is not mine, it is my ancestors who fear me.
They fear judgement day, when I see them as they were.
They are part of my family tree, seeded long ago.

My heart slows and becomes one with earth.
It is believed out of earth we are created
Men are from dust women are the rock (rib)
Skeletons drum are in sync with my heartbeat.
Skeletons teach me about empathy and love.

Skeletons in my closet: “Speak to me!”
What is your name? Where are you from?
Come out, I want to know you, to not fear you!
African and First Nation drums I hear they relax me
The drum beat calms me, we become one with earth.

Come let me give you a proper burial in the earth.
So you can join and rejoice with the ancestors.
Make a feast invite all who want to be at peace.
To remember you were mistreated human beings
My ancestors claimed you were not human or equal.

Truth be told:  Equal yet different, we are!  
No one can change the past, we cannot Quantum Leap!
There are no time machines to correct the past.
Listen to the voice of the skeletons in your closet.
We can work together to improve the future.


Wednesday, June 4, 2014

A tribute to Heather

Heather is a friend who died as a result of Sickle Cell Anemia on June 3, 2014    I wrote this poem to celebrate her life and honor her memory.  

HEATHER    by Celine Leduc—June 4, 2014

Heather is about health as a sickler*
Heather is a flower sweet an fragrant
Heather is the friend I loved and lost.

Yesterday, you were in pain
Yesterday, you struggled
Yesterday, you passed away.

Today, we** are in pain.
Today, we are struggling
Today, we know you are away.

Heather you are a role model
For those who suffered
For all those sicklers who still suffer.

We remember you laughing at fate, a miracle!
When you cheated death more than once.
You survived had children and a grandson.

We remember your joy of being a grandmother
We remember your smile and your pride
We remember you advice:  Live life

Today, we celebrate your life
Today, we salute you
Today, we remember you!

Eternity is at hand for we will never forget YOU!
Forever remembered in your legacy
Your Children and grandchildren live on.

Yesterday, you were in pain and in Hell
Today, you are in Heaven in the spirit world
You joined the ancestors, we will not FORGET.

*Sickler a person who suffers from Sickle Cell anemia
**We includes all those who knew her, her family extended family and friends.