The thought of harboring our children in safe places came to mind, when Lillian at d’verse asked us to write a Quadrille of 44 words using the word harbor. It brought to mind two of my favorite songs: Teach Your Children Well and Cat’s in the Cradle. With all the violence and mayhem going on around us, children no longer can feel safe, even while at school. Home should be that safe haven where our children need not fear and were loving relationships are the primary goal.
Harbor children well
In safe places // from the gale
Shower them with love’s rain
Watch them grow // unfurl their sail
Ships built strong // with loving care
Ready to face swells
Life’s hurricanes // and wind’s wails
Anchored by our care…
Harbor children’s souls with Love
iPhone Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Join us at d’verse: https://dversepoets.com
Well written and cute pic of that little girl in the rain haha! Blessings!
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Thank you! I just could not resist shooting this photo. It was too cute.
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You’re so welcome!!! Awww, glad you did after all!
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Mee Tooo!
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Good write about keeping kids safe!
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Thank you so much!
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The thought of keeping kids safe at home makes me think of all those kids where home is the worst place… maybe we need to do more to keep the other places safer
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Or perhaps attempt to help parents be better parents to their kids. Thanks.
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Beautiful message, I love the last line.
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Thanks Astrid. To me it says it all!
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I LOVE your take on the prompt! Yes, yes and again yes. We must be the safe harbor for our children. May I share something here? My son-in-law is a successful composer — mainly of choral music. Kevin Siegfried. You can google him and you’ll find his website. There are many audios of his music, performed by many choirs across the country, on his website. Your wonderful poem here is reminiscent of one piece he composed, More Love. I believe there is a recording of it on his site. It’s a short piece but beautiful. You might also find it on You Tube….there is a line in it….”we’ll plant it and sow it and every day grow it. More love, more love.” I think you’d really like it. Give a listen if you are so inclined. 🙂
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Thank you Lillian for the wonderful comment. I will see if I can look him up Sounds like a very talented man.
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I listened to Kevin’s Love is Little and Peace hymn on youtube. Very well done. Took me back to my roots of acapella church music!
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You will find zero naysayers amongst your poetic fellowship. I have 8 grandchildren, and I wonder about the world we bequeath them.
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Perhaps our predisesors in WWII thought the same thing? I am just glad I don’t have to do it all over again.
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LOVE this poem, Dwight. The family and community must be a safe harbor for the children…YES!!
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Thank you. I feel the same way!
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A timely and lyrical write -I could hear faint melodies of both those great songs – 2 of my favorites too. And thank you for the kind comment on my poem. So appreciated. K
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You are very welcome. Welcome to d’Verse!
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Thank you for your comments.
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I love your message of keeping the children safe and with loving care!
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Thanks Grace! I think it is an important one!
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This is such a lovely line: “Shower them with love’s rain.” Wonderful writing!
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Thank you Jo. I thought about you after I had posted and hoped it would not be too difficult for you in light of your difficult childhood. Breaking the cycle and keeping them safe. Thank you for your kind words.
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This is such a significant poem. I like the ship metaphor, which complements the use of “harbor” here. Children should indeed grow up in safe places where they are loved and cared for.
-HA
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Thank you so much for your kind words! I agree with you on this!!
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This is a nice take on the prompt. Advice we all should take heed.
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Thank you so much!
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Yes!
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Thanks.
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I appreciate your effort and energy to reply to my post, but it is a bit much for a response. Your response is as much as my whole post and also a bit confusing and difficult to follow with your given format. I am not trying to be disrespectful, but it is just too much for me to approve. Thank you for your response.
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SMiLes..:)
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Well written and such an important message…too many young people feel hopeless and ill equipped to face the ‘swalls’
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I love this. If we all saw that they are the future we would harbour them tenderly.
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Yep, kids didn’t ask to be born, so it is our responsibility to provide a safe harbor. I really like your poem.
Pat
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Thanks Pat! I appreciate you reading so many of my posts.
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My pleasure.
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Kudos to your sensitivity!
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Thanks Reena. Children are our future! We must take good care of them.
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Pure. The heart of a mother! Nice post. 🙂
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Thank you! And a father!! So important!
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And yes, of course! 🙂
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So well said, Dwight. As a school governor I think about these things all the time but we all need to be reminded about safeguarding our children.
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Thanks Kim. I think it is so important!
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so sad for our kids these days, true Dwight we need to provide them a safe harbour, that feeling of safety isn’t felt much anymore
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Thanks Gina, This is the change we should be pushing for…
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you are welcome Dwight and its something i am personally involved in, I am part of a street feeding ministry and teach the kids language and songs, the are such a frightened lot my heart breaks when I have to say see you next week.
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What a wonderful service your provide. Your love and caring is probably even more important.
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its a little bit from everyone
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Such a heartfelt pen ❤️❤️
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Thank you…. I love my grandchildren!!
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Glenn’s right. Nobody is going to argue with these sentiments 🙂
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Thanks Jane!
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🙂
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🦋 Great post.
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I want to frame this and run to the maternity wards, handing it out with urgency. Perfect, Dwight, perfect.
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Thank you Zander! You do just that!! Let me know how it goes!
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