Tag: history

Documenting

On By Piano girl3 Comments

Gathering
Some carried flags
Others held carefully crafted
signs clearly expressing their purpose

People from all walks of life
Chants steady and strong
No troops, no ICE
No troops, no ICE

The message filling
every ounce of space
between the buildings
that lined the city streets

A continuing steady march
toward freedom for all
No troops, no ICE
No troops, no ICE

Weaving our way through
the crowd, there was no
fear- only strength and unity,
magnetic and memorable

Gathering
The words continue ringing
Faces captured in my mind’s eye
A grateful observer documenting truth

We were guests, visitors to the city. And though not participants in Chicago’s No Kings rally and march, we stood in agreement, willing observers.

Understanding the importance and power held within peaceful protests. And it was peaceful. And it was powerful.

Thank you, Chicago, for allowing us to take in your beauty, character, food, and history. ❤️

Belongings

On By Piano girl3 Comments

A silver shopping cart
sits in the middle
of an empty
parking lot

They must have missed it
during the big clean-up

Someone’s every
single earthly
belonging lay
still inside

There was no someone.

I imagine it will
be gone tomorrow
Another attempt to
solve a problem
by covering it up

But the question
remains the same

Where did the people go?

Third poem in an unintended trio. Read the others here:

https://pianogirlthoughts.com/2025/09/10/eerily-clean/

https://pianogirlthoughts.com/2025/09/19/plain-sight/

Fourth of July

On By Piano girl10 Comments

I decided to revisit a poem I wrote several years ago. Made a few changes, but the story remains the same. It just felt like the right one to share this year.

Grandpa

Grandpa worked hard
his entire life.
He married young.
He and Grandma
raised nine kids
in the country.

Strong and stubborn,
but loved to laugh.
Mellowed over time.
Without a doubt,
dealt with struggles
I never knew.

I can see him
wearing overalls
after a long day.
Promising to dance
at my wedding, if
I’d fetch what he needed.

Liked to argue.
Loved his family.
He was always ready to
welcome them home.
Looking forward to a
Family gathering that very day.

But in the morning,
while everyone slept,
He woke early.
Put the coffee on.
Then sat down in
his favorite chair.

At the young age of sixty-seven,
Grandpa died.
It was the Fourth of July.

Person, Place, or Thing

On By Piano girl5 Comments

We hope and dream
Plan and build
Laugh and live-
Until we compare-
Then we search and rethink
Remodel and rebuild
Until our misguided focus
Causes discontentment and
Greed leads us to
Tear down and abandon-
Oh, that we will realize
Before it’s too late
Our emphasis on places and things
Has the power to destroy the heart-
Unless we, the people,
Choose to treat each other
With dignity and respect
Dreaming and planning together
To build a kinder, stronger tomorrow-
At least, that is my hope…

A Calling

On By Piano girl8 Comments


The voice in my head screams
As the one in my heart sobs
A flood of questions
Fills the gulf in between-
Unable to understand
Darkness capable of
Instantly turning
One heart against another
With no consideration of
The humanity within us all
Instead, focused on labels
Created, then vilified by men-
My head barely remains above
This continuous current of Information-
My heart aches for a sign of hope-
Sunlight after a storm
Twinkling star in the night sky
Laughter of a child-
The beginnings of truth
A calling for peace

Not Enough

On By Piano girlLeave a comment

Feeling the need to speak
Knowing the importance of
Choosing my words
Carefully-
Not speaking is unacceptable-
Emotions swirl in my head
Threatening to exit in a scream-
Until I pause
Take a breath
Whisper a prayer
Allowing it all to be filtered
Though my heart –
Love your neighbor as yourself
Leaves no room to vilify or dehumanize-
Be kind and compassionate to one another
Holds no space for intimidation and hatred-
Love those who are foreigners,
For you yourselves were foreigners
Carries no capacity for arrogance or exile-
Choosing my words carefully
Knowing they are not enough
And actions must follow

Photos taken by me in Washington, D.C.

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl5 Comments

Grain of Sand

What kind of footprints
Am I leaving behind
As I walk through each day?
Are they easily erased
By the wind and rain?
When walking alone
That may be the case-
But what if my feet
Are like those of a child
Following the impressions
Left by those walking ahead?
Confident or unsure
It does not matter
They are not mine alone
But instead, a grain of sand
Within one layer of history
Where many who walked
And continue walking
Will faithfully
And gently call me back
When my feet
Step off the path

Worth Telling

On By Piano girl7 Comments

Magic
In a tiny
Cardboard disc
Cutout windows
Evenly spaced
Around its edges
Each one holding
Transparent film
Unclear images
Until said disc
Is carefully placed
In the slot on top
Of the viewfinder-
Eyes glued
To the lenses
Held up to the light
And a whole new
Word emerges
Click the side button
To continue the journey
Image after image
Sharing a story
Worth telling-
We all have a story
Worth telling
Our very own
Cardboard disc
Filled with
Windows
To the soul

Sharing another poetry circle poem. Thankful for opportunities and connections. ❤️

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl3 Comments

45 rpm

Seven-inch
Vinyl disc
Placed on
A circle
Within
A magic box
Turn the knob
Watch it spin
Forty-five
Rotations
Per minute
Place the needle
Listen as it
Moves across
The ridges
Releasing
Its power
Releasing
The music

I saw the movie Elvis yesterday with my friend, Marina. I grew up listening to Elvis. Watched his concerts on television. Remember the breaking news on the day he died.

I also remember dancing around a record player with my cousins at grandma’s house. Hound Dog and Don’t Be Cruel were our choice of 45s. We all loved Elvis.

Elvis had a style all his own, and it was controversial. People either loved him or hated him. But his roots were honest and truthful. And his contributions to our nation’s musical heritage are of great value. I am thankful his 45s were part of my childhood.

Self-Check Lane

On By Piano girl14 Comments
Decided to give http://lindaghill.com/ weekly SoCS writing prompt a go! This week’s prompt was bagged. Fun!

He bagged groceries most of his life. Found satisfaction in the routine.

It was like a new puzzle with each order. Everything had its place. Heavy cans were double bagged. Bread and eggs are always on top.

The smiles were nice, too. Most people seemed to appreciate the care taken with their chosen items. After all, these were the things intended to provide sustenance, and energy needed to fulfill their specific jobs.

Yes, their jobs may have been seen as more important than bagging groceries. That didn’t matter, not to him. He took pride in those bagged groceries.

Only one thing made him sad. That was the day the owner installed their first self-check lane…