Rallentanda

Rallentanda

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Oliver! - Where Is Love




The Word Of A Single Song

For you
orphan'd
blighted 
by war
by misfortune
by natural disasters
extreme poverty
neglect and abuse

For you
the children
unwanted
not special to anyone

salvation
comes in books
learn to read explore
discover and question
then you can dream yourselves
to a magic place
where you can safely
open yourselves to love
where the inner core becomes inviolate
against exploitation
against self serving self promoters
contriving a display of altruism
for questionable motives

i pray that you
will experience
genuine kindness
genuine affection
you may be poor
you may be unwanted
but you are not stupid
you will know the difference 
and you will remember ...





16 comments:

  1. ". . . open yourselves to love
    where the inner core becomes inviolate
    against exploitation . . . "

    An apt answer to the Oliver song! I enjoyed fitting your words to that tune.

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  2. Oh this is so heartfelt!!
    Beautifully done.

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  3. "self serving self promoters / contriving a display of altruism / for questionable motives" there is no dearth of them in this world...so sad...you've wonderfully brought out the plight of the orphans by the use of the name Oliver, (Dickens's), which is but a sad song...

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  4. May your prayer take root in abandoned children's hearts, to warm them and help them grow strong.

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  5. Amen!!! How beautifully you speak/pray for children. Thank you Rail.

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  6. Such stunning truth in this song...as a teacher, I have long known that...

    'salvation
    comes in books
    learn to read explore
    discover and question'

    It is the greatest hope for children.

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  7. A lesson for all for sure. Beautiful piece :)

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  8. So hard to envisage not having dreams, if only these children had the oppotunites we took for granted.So well put accross Rall.

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  9. Well this is a tearjerker. However much we care and contribute for their cause it is still not enough.

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  10. A song for the heart of every child. How beautiful your poem sings, Rall

    Much love...

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  11. opening lines so poignant to the unecessary suffering of children. lovely poem with heart, i think we all prey for them to experience kindness.

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  12. Beautifully said. Hope is essential. It is not enough but it is essential.

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  13. A lovely song, one my favourites from "Oliver", Rall.
    Wonderful poem and great advice to the oppressed and downtrodden - read, study, learn, become wise and overcome your obstacles...

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