A Hope A Promise

A hope, a promise
on the page, those words
words of mettle
a promise to fulfill
a hope to achieve

We may not there yet,
as a people, a nation
not fully achieved
but an idea, a dream
a hope yet to be

America, the beautiful
at least in our minds
governed by the people
together sharing that dream
in your heart and mine

What we want to be
our aspirations, our creed
spoken so long ago
that all would be equal
that all would be free

That we could all climb
as our skills, our gifts
our God-given talents
would take us
in a land of the free

We may ot there yet,
as a nation, a people
not fully achieved
but an idea, a dream
a hope yet to be

=====

edited April 7, 2018

A Hope, A Promise – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-hope-promise-v4.html

edited December 19, 2014

A Hope, A Promise – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-hope-promise-v3.html

edited July 4, 2014

A Hope, A Promise – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-hope-promise-v2.html

July 4, 2012

A Hope, A Promise

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/hope-promise.html

July 4, 2012

edit of poem, “An Idea, A Dream”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/idea-dream.html  

Independence Day

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Independence-Day.shtml

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 46,720 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

America, brother, dream, face, Faith, Family, fire, God, hope, in the crowd, July 4th, justice, Law, Methodist, neighbor, prayer, sharing, soul, fourth of July,

#America #dream #Faith #Family #God #hope #July4th #Law #neighbor #ME #prayer #4thofJuly #fourthofJuly #USA #God #love #community #mettle #metal #DeclarationofIndependence #Constitution #MartinLutherKingJr #MLK50 #Mlk50Forward

A path abandoned

Together with the others
knowing all the players
standing in the gate
the circles, the courts
somewhere I once tread

Aware of my own choices
a path abandoned
not standing in the breach
words now somehow empty
a way now out of reach (?)

May 30, 2012
written while attending
NH Bar Continuing Legal Education seminar
“Special Education 2012”
May 30, 2012

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,080+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Touching one life

Lives in the balance
young lives, vulnerable
needing voices, advocates
people by their side

To seek justice, rights
that which they need
for a chance at life
to rise with their neighbors
to thrive like the rest

May 30, 2012
written while attending
NH Bar Continuing Legal Education seminar
“Special Education 2012”
May 30, 2012

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 18,490+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

#law #specialeducation #advocate #children #attorney #IDEA #Section504 #education #practice #disability #IEP #school

Opening the Doors

Their exclusion barred
opening the doors
gathering them in
to grow with their neighbors
together one body
all with one another
hope for inclusion
no one left out

May 30, 2012
written while attending
NH Bar Continuing Legal Education seminar
“Special Education 2012”
PARC and Mills decisions
IDEA law
May 30, 2012

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 18,490+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Networking

Hi, how are you,
nice to see you,
what brings you here,
what are you getting
from what the speakers
are telling us;
How far was it for you,
are you staying the whole time?
I’m new at this whole thing;
here’s my card,
call me if you need something
Nice to meet you.


July 26, 2007 10:20
(50 cards handed out in the 4 days
of the conference this week)


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,540+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Enemy

I met an enemy
an opponent, believing,
championing, parroting
dangerous lies. Pernicious
and sugar-coated, lies
of causation, of statistics
of blaming the victims
standing up for their rights

Rights fought for,
long held beliefs,
discounted, disputed,
in the party line;
dangerous lies
that must end.

July 25, 2007 22:25


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,770+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.