ODE TO ELEANOR

Posted byLESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RAINBOWPosted inUncategorizedTags:, , , , , , , ,

It’s the cheeks for me

I say as I show her photo

But it’s much more than that

It’s what she makes me see

It’s what I now know

But it’s much more than that

It’s her ice-cream smeared lips

And her little baby laughs

But it’s much more than that

It’s the way she loves her mama

And how she looks at her dad

But it’s much more than that

It’s how she nuzzles your neck

And her little fat toes

But it’s much more than that

It’s how she healed all our pain

With her very first breath

How she made every hurt worth it

If with her you get another day

It’s the joy she brings

To a world darkened by hate

And how you know she loves you

And how you make her feel safe

It’s dancing with her in the grass

And how you just want to stay

To watch the rain fall down

And see the clouds go away

It’s the power she holds in those eyes

And her little childish play

And how content she is

To lay in your arms all day

It’s the love she has awakened in us

And the words we cannot say

But it’s much more than that.

Published by LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RAINBOW

As a poor kid growing up in the Mississippi Delta, there was never alot of hope or many opportunities. But, for 30 minutes, if I could sit in front of my tv, I could go anywhere and be anything through the magic of Reading Rainbow. That show brought so much light into some really dark days; and I carried the lessons I learned through the storytelling of Lavar Burton for all my life. Now that I am a grandmother, I've come to realize the significance of Reading Rainbow and the role it played in making me the woman I am today. I feel that the cruelty in this world has hardened my heart against the hope and valorous spirit that I once had. I am hoping that by revisiting Reading Rainbow; and the stories covered over its expansive reign on Public Access Television, I will regain the love for life and craving for adventure that the little girl growing up on Hunter Road had over 40 years ago.

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