he walks upon the dusty earth
so as not to disturb
those that have gone before
lest they no longer
guide the footsteps
of the generations
to come
cut off
in clad feet
we attempt to stamp
it in to
submission
***

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Published by Jo Bryant
I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes.
I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment.
I am also a freelance writer/editor.
I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008.
I am writing my first novel.
I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web.
And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.
View all posts by Jo Bryant
And we worry about how little we have, nice post Jo.
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It makes you think sometimes – thanks Harry.
š
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love the line about stamping it into submission. poignant. very nice write.
http://magicinthebackyard.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/on-the-dock-where-summer-lied/
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Thank you Kelly.
š
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The sad truth. Nicely written piece, Jo.
http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/a-thousand-candles/
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Thank you Charles
š
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Very moving. Well done, Jo.
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Thanks Hook…
š
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This poem helped remind me of an old Native American saying I once heard…
“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children”
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One very relevant saying in these times Bear !!!!
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This is one of the rare pieces that really move a person. Visually it is brilliant because of the picture but take away the picture and it still speaks volumes!
How is your novel coming along?
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Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. Sadly at present with the laptop away ill, and using a dinosaur of a desktop – the novel is going very slowly…
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Written with a touch of empathy and compassion…. š
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Thank you
š
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This poem may be short, but carries a powerful message…Beautiful, Jo. I also noted the copyright on the photo…Did you go to Africa and took the picture yourself? If so, it must have been a very distressing, but also emotional trip…
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Thanks Didi – yes I did take that myself. It was actually a very heartwarming trip. The people we met along the way were so generous and full of life…I learned many lessons about living in Africa.
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I am so happy to hear that! It sounds like a trip we all ought to make to free ourselves from the prejudices and preconceptions we’ve been feed for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, Africa is all too often depicted in our mass-media is as a place of famine and desperation and nothing else.
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Africa certainly has its deprivations and there are many aspects that need addressing to better the lives of those that live there – but there is a great deal of joy/optimism/generosity of spirit…definitely one of my favourite places to be…
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Absolutely amazing. In to submission—powerful stuff.
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Thank you so much for that !!!
š
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An absolutely beautiful and truthful poem (and I loved the photos)! Saying so much with so few words is staggering. Thank you!
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Thank you !!! What a great comment for me to find on here.
š
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absolutely beautiful.
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Thank you Natalie.
š
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So touching… The photograph and your beautiful and wisely written lines hit me. Also the title too “Homage”… Thank you dear Jo, with my love, nia
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No – thank you for your always encouraging words.
š
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AWESOME!
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So glad you liked it.
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There for the Grace of our Creator we could be walking his path…. A very touching poem.. We should all look to such and give thanks for the paths we tread…
Much love to you Jo, and I wish you a wonderful weekend…. Sorry I havent been around much lately… but your posts are read mainly via my phone.. love and Light xx Sue~ Dreamwalker xx
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Thank you Sue – I haven’t been around much either – the computer I am using is so slow, I dread doing anything on it…
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Facts of life, well captured. š I too ahve captured some. am at ~
http://promisingpoetsparkinglot.blogspot.com/2011/12/agreement-for-thursday-poets-rally-week.html
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Thanks
š
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incredible, smiles.
Happy Holidays.
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Thank you – happy holidays to you as well.
š
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Beautiful stuff, Jo! Are you into any of the pre-Soviet Russian poets? This one puts me a little in mind of them.
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Thanks Balladeer – I shall have to look in to them. As yet I haven’t really done much reading of their work.
š
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Great photo and very moving words. Lovely.
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Thanks Christine – love it when you take a liking to something I’ve done…
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stark reality brilliant observation and deep thoughts of truth-a pleasure to read
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Thank you – I really appreciate your saying so…
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Short and to the point, but thought-provoking. I like what you captured in the photo – the older child is hard at work while the younger one almost seems to be swaggering around like he’s trying to be an adult. š I had a friend who lived there and have another one at present who used to…it amazes me that even with so little (compared to the rest of the world) they still manage to be such happy and resilient people. Perhaps they know the secret to happiness is not about “things” but about connections.
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One encounter we had there has never left me. We stopped on a dusty road for lunch where there was a ‘house’ on one side and a cooking lean-to building on the other. A truckload of people who could afford to travel, had food, equipment, more money than sense half the time, and these wonderful people – this family – brought out all their chairs from the house for us, were insistant that we use the cooking facilities they had, even tried to give us their eggs. They were generous with all they had, and all they were. I have never forgotten it.
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Puts things into perspective somewhat doesn’t it? Great post. :] xx
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Hi Catie – I thought that it does that…it was a reminder to me at least to remember how good I have it.
š
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