“VOICE OF THE LIBERTY BELL”
by Gloriana Casey for 7 /4/ 2009

In Philadelphia, I live,
a grand and giant bell.
And long my life, and journeys made.
the stories I can tell.

On Market Street I sit in rest,
between streets 5th and 6th.
At times to travel cross the land,
from East to West, miles ticked.

My birth in London’s Whitechapel,
in 1751.
To honor Penn’s State charter,
set in 1701.

Charter of Privileges was the name,
for Penn was fair and wise.
Religion free and people too,
my purpose, from his eyes.

When first I rang, Myself I cracked,
two men named Pass and Stow,
Were hired then to remold me
My rebirth, it was slow.

They thought perhaps more copper was
the best way to repair.
With tin and lead and arsenic too,
the mix was almost there.

Then silver, gold, and zinc came next,
but just a little bit.
My new self tolled, but people frowned
at just the sound of it!

Another bell was ordered then,
and London sent the next.
But this tone too was just not good,
with people highly vexed.

This new bell went to State House roof,
with clock to sound the hour.
But I remained in my same place,
and kept the ringer’s power.

I tolled for Franklin’s England trip,
to plead the peoples’ fears
And rang when King George gained the throne,
I tolled for many years.

For Sugar and the Stamp Acts too,
rang loud to tell the crowd
To speak of king’s unfairness then,
in voices clear and loud.

My bell self once a fugitive,
the British came to town.
I hid in Allentown’s old church,
and wouldn’t be melt down.

I rang in 1776,
from Independence Hall,
To hear the Constitution read
out loud to raise the call.

Abolitionists, they gave my name
as “Liberty, ” it’s fact
A symbol against slavery,
inhuman, heinous act.

In 1846 I made,
My final bell voice chime,
And never more you heard from me,
perhaps now is the time,

To tell you now why I, cannot speak,
my message fine and clear.
I represent what’s best in life,
and all that you hold dear.

I am a bell and that is much,
my medium to teach.
But sadly now, I see lost hope,
with furies let unleashed.

Remember this to change your life,
though mute remains my tongue,
Do not sit back and curse your life,
Democracy’s not done.

So join and write, petition, act
toward Washington D.C.
For only you can raise the HOPE,
and keep the “Land of Free.”

Where once the Common Good, it reigned,
I see a land in need,
Speak up and make your ideas heard,
to change our course with speed.

Involvement, not complaining will
then right our country’s fate.
Citizenhood, is needed now,
before it is too late.

“These are the times that try (our) souls,
so true did Tom Paine say
Our forefathers, they had the grit,
those truths you know today.

You think of me but do forget,
that while my voice gave ring
It’s only from the PEOPLES’ voice
Democracy can sing.

If you’re a migraine poet, enter Teri Robert’s 2009 Putting Our Heads Together contest. The deadline is April 17.

Here’s my mind-poem from last evening’s beach walk:

urgently inhaling sun-sea-air energy
painting the scene on a memory canvas
with sounds and smells
for future reference