pictured words

a simple pairing of pictures and poetry

Tag: Mother of Exiles

Maternal Strength (Mother of Exiles)

Photo by Romina Ramat on Pexels.com

Maternal Strength (Mother of Exiles)

Her light, once shining full and bright,
now dim from weeks-long dark of night.
Her eyes glimpse loss of prized allies.
Tear-flooded eyes say their goodbyes
to those once-welcomed, now in throes
of deportation, unopposed.

“Rise up!” She pleads, “to stop this man
who’s changed our core in six-weeks’ span.”
Maternal strength with nurturing spirit,
sing your welcome!  Let us hear it!
Shine bright your lamp and wail your plea,
“Send poor and tempest-tossed to me!”

© Marie Elena Good 2025

Title and final line of course inspired by The New Colossus, by American poet Emma Lazarus

Mother of Exiles

9843-statue-of-liberty

Photo credit:  “Bill” of lovethispic.com

Silent lips call not the privileged,
But the pillaged –
Lifted lamp in hand, pursuing
Pomp’s undoing.
Mother of Exiles’ mild eyes
Don’t canonize ennoblement,
Nor demonize the waifs’ lament.
Her lamp is lit,
Her mission, writ –
“Send these,” her timeless, ceaseless plea.
Dear homeless, come. Be loved. Breathe free.

 

© Marie Elena Good, 2016