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Hi, everyone. I’m back from my business trip to Jersey City, where I attended a conference related to my day job. I arrived after dark due to plane delays caused by bad weather, and thus had no idea what the view from my room was until the next morning.
I was surprised by my emotional response to seeing the Statue of Liberty. I did not have time to go see her up-close and personal (so to speak), but I found myself crying in my hotel room. I spent a lot of time contemplating her message and feeling like we’ve kind of broken her promise to the world, you know?
The message in question is a poem by Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus,” which was written in 1883 to raise money to build a pedestal for the statue. It is engraved on the pediment of the Statue of Liberty for all to see today. Irving Berlin took a portion of the sonnet and created a song that my elementary school chorus sang in many a program.
Here is the sonnet in its entirety, followed by a performance of Berlin’s song by the Portland Choir & Orchestra from my home town.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
MOTHER OF EXILES. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
You know, somehow I manage to travel during the worst weather lately. This time, it’s for the day job rather than book research, but still. I’m heading to Jersey City, New Jersey, tomorrow … right on the tail of the derecho.
I’ll check in with all of you while I’m in the Garden State. Be good to each other.
Happy Monday, everyone. This week’s song is a Ben E. King classic, as performed by Julian Lennon. Julian’s late father, John, recorded “Stand By Me” on his 1975 album, Rock ‘n’ Roll. Enjoy!
Readers and fans! This is where I’ll be the first weekend in October. I so hope to see you there. The event is FREE! All you have to do is get there and cover your hotel. Leave the rest up to InD’tale Magazine! It’s going to be a great time!
InD’Scribe Conference in 2018 will be filled with fun and informative workshops and panels for everyone, a Reader Rave book signing room Saturday, October 6th, parties and socials at night and prizes everywhere! That’s not all, though. The conference will culminate in the 2018 RONE awards gala event where the very best authors of the year will be honored and readers, as well as industry professionals, can enjoy quality entertainment, relax and party the final night away!
