Stacey Joy never fails to bring joyful and inspiring poetry prompts. Her free verse is a perfect way to begin this month’s Open Write. You can read it here on EthicalEla.com, and join us in writing today. The blackbirds are such beautiful symbols of the flight to freedom in the story, and on this weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count when so many are counting birds, I’ll reflect back on this story and her poem and be reminded that freedom as people and as a nation is a blessing that took blood, sweat, and tears – and lives – to have and hold. She inspired me to choose an etheree to write about one of my favorites, also with a theme of freedom – The Legend of the Teddy Bear by Frank Murphy.
They Called Him Teddy
When Roosevelt let a wild bear go free,
The Washington Post ran a cartoon.
Rose and Morris Michtom took note.
In their candy store, she sewed~
Commemorating choice~
Celebrating strength~
Their idea: our
Nation’s first
Teddy
Bear
Common Threads 