Resilient in Hope, Strong in Love

Juneteenth

by Stacie Eirich 

Jubilant we sing, our music connecting

Us in a cry of freedom, our voices raised against injustices of the past, our memories

Narrating histories of prejudice and pain, hurt and loss

Evoking grief in hearts broken by hate, woven with blood and bone —

Twined together, our bodies have wept in sorrow, suffocating

Entangled in so much grief — but now, a brilliant spark of Light!

Elated in expectation, exuberant with relief, we reach out for

New mornings, fresh days of bounteous breaths where

Together we break free from chains that so long fettered us

Healing from a past that has made us but will not define our future — our hearts resilient in Hope — our communities, strong in Love!

copyright Stacie Eirich July 6, 2021

*This acrostic poem was written in celebration of the now federally recognized Freedom holiday in the USA, Juneteenth, on June 19th 2021. A celebration of freedom from slavery and African American culture, it's a day of jubilation in diversity and independence from racial injustice.

The images you see here are from The Washington's Chorus's Resilience, a digital concert program released on-demand in June 2021 that highlights the power of music and the human spirit. A program that celebrates diversity in culture, the arts, and freedom from injustice — I am immensely proud to have been one of its singers.  

Enjoy the preview below! For more information, visit: www.thewashingtonchorus.com 

Thank you for visiting my blog, and I wish you a wonderful July! I'll be travelling with my family, writing, singing and working my way through the rest of the summer. In the quiet moments, I'll remember the peace and joy that music brings us - and look forward to continued creativity & fresh paths of inspiration in the fall of 2021. Be safe & well. -Stacie