Glimpses of Gray
History shouldn't be viewed
in black and white
with minds that accuse,
fingers that point.
In living color
we'll never see the past
lucky, perhaps, to view
glimpses of gray
help us understand
the hows, the whys
help us build
a better tomorrow
and pray future generations
will view our lives
with compassionate,
forgiving hearts.
by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, May 1, 2012
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This is for "Poetry Jam - It's All About History".
19 comments:
i like your poem very much.
Truly magnificent, Margaret. Words and images ...
When you look back at old black & white photographs, they are still so full of life. Although, as a kid I used to believe that all the old black & white movies were that way because they all wore black & white...LOL
Loved your prose and the pics.
I enjoyed your poem and your photographs, Margaret. I agree that history should not be viewed in black and white. There are always interpretations possible even in the seemingly most straight-forward events. And yes, we cannot accuse...but hopefully will learn a few things from the past.
and pray future generations
will view our lives
with compassionate,
forgiving hearts.
nice...can only hope the future generations are as forgiving of our miss steps...love monticello...was just up in c'ville this last weekend...
Wonderful poem and great photos of Monticello. I like the b&W.
Amazing as always! I'm such a fan of B&W photos, and yours are exceptional. Lots of wisdom in that poem, love the hope held out for our future at the end.
Thanks for the great tour!
Lovely photos and thoughts!
Margaret, you are an amazing photographer! These are gorgeous, and your poem an excellent expression of thoughts behind them.
Lovely photos and absolutely right. History is so complex and it is so wrong (I think) to judge out of context. People's views are products of so much.
Sometimes - and I know this is kind of a dumb comparison--but I think of old "historic" movies where people, the women particularly have some modern hair style -- a bee hive or something -- and it is so out of place in the so-called historical context. I know those are just movies, but people can do the same things when they try to look at historical situations solely through modern eyes. I don't mean to seem like an apologist in this, but I do think that simply more knowledge is useful, knowledge of the entire time. It is of course difficult because we also are products of our times. K.
the better we understand history, the more we can learn..but still make so much mistakes and yep..hope that future generations will look at what we did with forgiving hearts... great wisdom in this margaret
Your photos and words complement each other to perfection.
I love Monticello and have wonderful childhood memories from there. Your photos are just stunning. I especially love the "wheel" shadow of the bentwood chair. Imagine the inspiration of living at such a place. No wonder he was so full of creativity. Your poem is quite true. We can't know how it was for each individual who has lived, without living in their circumstances.
love your words and photographs, Margaret!
♥
Your images are rich and vibrant; adjectives typically reserved to describe coloured photos. Your photographs excel!
Much food for thought in those words.
Well penned lines to match the beautiful photography of Monticello. I admire Jefferson - a man not without blemish - a man of his times and a man beyond it as well. Truly a Renaissance genius who mastered so much and wrote so well. A fitting tribute here.
Your B&Ws are exquisite, Margaret. The last one of the chair could win a contest, hands down!
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