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A Stirring Poem - Laura Leiser's Blog

About Laura Leiser

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I am a Californian, born and raised. My husband, Greg, and I Iive in San Diego, California. We have two grown sons, both married. Our older son, Eric, is an artist and filmmaker and our younger son, Jeffrey, is a film editor and composer. Their work is featured on their website, Albino Fawn Productions. We have two adorable grandsons, the younger just recently born in June, 2021! We also have an adorable granddaughter! I was an R.N. for many years, and chose to retire early. I am a Christian and active with the women's ministry at my local church. I love music, the arts, and have dabbled with poetry off and on for the last several years.

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A Stirring Poem

Blog Posted:5/26/2022 8:35:00 AM

In light of the horrific Uvalde, TX shooting and the sorrow it has brought to our whole nation, I read the most incredible poem in response to this tragedy from a long time PS member that needs to be read. She would never draw attention to it herself, but I was so moved, I feel we all need to read it. "What More Can We Do" by Rhonda Johnson-Saunders, describes the heartbreak and effects of gun violence, the devestating feelings of loss, the helplessness, in such poetic words that made me weep.
May we all pray for the families of those innocent children who were literally slaughtered, and for our nation to find a way to heal.
God help us!

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Eve
Roper

Date: 5/28/2022 6:18:00 AM

:'(

Constance
La France

Date: 5/27/2022 6:44:00 AM

Laura, I read the poem by Rhonda and felt the same tears, I am so happy that her poem got POEM OF THE DAY, not because she seeks glory but because it will highlight the poem for others to read, blessings ~Constance

Unseeking
Seeker

Date: 5/26/2022 10:10:00 PM

Thanks for letting us know ~ must get around to reading the poem. Lax gun laws compounded with feeling of alienation among the young particularly, indicate that we must address the problem at it’s roots, being narrowness encouraged by society, as a consequence of which, the flame of love is dimmed in our hearts.

Line
Gauthier

Date: 5/26/2022 3:03:00 PM

Thanks for bringing this poem to our attention, Laura.

Sam
Kauffman

Date: 5/26/2022 2:11:00 PM

Thank you Laura for your post. The horror of this unspeakable act of horror must motivate us to action in prayer, in sharing our collective insights not as directives or mandates but to shape new policy that will address the many issues integral to this tragedy including addressing mental health issues, in gathering to collectively mourn, in writing and composing! When the war in Ukraine erupted I started lighting a candle each night for peace. Last night I lit two candles. I invite you to do the same. We can be an avalanche of light. I will look at Rhonda's poem. So grateful for the time you took to blog. Blessings

Laura Leiser
Date: 5/26/2022 4:07:00 PM

Thank you, Sam, for your insight and words of wisdom and compassion for the victims of this tragedy. We are all affected in some way, and there needs to be a change..prayers for all.

L Milton
Hankins

Date: 5/26/2022 9:13:00 AM

Thank you so much, Laura, for calling our attention to Rhonda's poem. I had already read it, but I do commend it to everyone, as you did. We must all do more than pray, however. We must flood the e-mailboxes of the powerful politicians with demands for gun control action. We must make our voices heard throughout the land. Thanks again, Laura.

My Past Blog Posts


A Stirring Poem Date Posted: 5/26/2022 8:35:00 AM
My Grievance Date Posted: 12/20/2021 8:57:00 AM
PS Team please HELP! Problem with Comments coming in! Date Posted: 11/26/2018 12:07:00 PM
My Absence Date Posted: 7/25/2018 1:41:00 PM
Do you enjoy Independent Films? Date Posted: 3/8/2017 12:02:00 PM
Confusion over Heroic Crown of Sonnets contest Date Posted: 6/5/2016 9:23:00 PM
Out Of Commission! Date Posted: 5/18/2016 9:27:00 PM
A Special New Poetry Soup Member! Date Posted: 5/12/2016 1:21:00 PM
Eternity Contest Judged Date Posted: 9/15/2015 5:20:00 PM
Been Gone! Date Posted: 9/14/2015 9:27:00 PM
Let's Get Philosophical Date Posted: 9/2/2015 8:14:00 PM
Colloquilisms Contest Judged Date Posted: 7/31/2015 12:20:00 AM
Colloquialisms- My FIRST Contest! Date Posted: 7/1/2015 11:38:00 AM
Questions About Member Contests Date Posted: 5/27/2015 9:22:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
4/25/2024	Dream of Dreams	Rhyme	dream,heaven,
4/25/2024	Who Will	Rhyme	death,god,hope,
1/4/2024	When Winter Sleeps	Free verse	winter,
12/10/2023	To Where You Are	Abecedarian	conflict,eve,youth,
12/6/2023	Bells	Rhyme	christian,music,
10/31/2023	Hart Island	Sonnet	death,halloween,
9/30/2023	Quiet Masterpiece	Free verse	angel,music,sad,winter,
9/19/2023	Witch	Pleiades	dark,scary,woman,
9/14/2023	Piano	Pleiades	music,
9/12/2023	Firefly	Pleiades	insect,light,
8/30/2023	Journey	Free verse	god,love,nature,
7/28/2023	When Doves Cry	Rhyme	bird,grief,
7/28/2023	Longing For You	Rhyme	faith,longing,love,
6/9/2023	Rock Me	Free verse	adventure,boat,sea,
5/7/2023	Melancholy Mood	Free verse	blue,lost,sad,
4/18/2023	Clouds	Free verse	beauty,earth,sky,
4/17/2023	Warriors On Our Knees	Dramatic Monologue	america,care,character,ju
4/16/2023	Released	Rhyme	death,life,missing you,
4/7/2023	Unveiling	Haiku	spring,tree,
3/25/2023	In the Grass	Rhyme	child,nature,
3/20/2023	When Memories Slip Away	Free verse	emotions,memory,
3/16/2023	A Baa Baa Feed Fest	Rhyme	animal,funny,
1/7/2023	The Cardinal and the Rose	Free verse	bird,flower,grief,
12/5/2022	Mystique of the Mojave	Free verse	earth,nature,
11/29/2022	Questions	Free verse	analogy,life,
11/18/2022	The Forgotten Path	Rhyme	celebration,christian,chr
10/27/2022	Autumn Celebration	Free verse	autumn,celebration,nature
10/18/2022	Keeping Watch	Free verse	blessing,sunset,
10/5/2022	Zipper	Pleiades	clothes,fun,
10/5/2022	Yesteryear	Pleiades	age,life,
10/5/2022	Xebec	Pleiades	boat,nature,
10/4/2022	Wilderness	Pleiades	nature,
10/3/2022	Valleys	Pleiades	nature,
10/1/2022	Umbrella	Pleiades	rain,
9/30/2022	Train	Pleiades	travel,
9/29/2022	Shepherd	Pleiades	devotion,father,
9/29/2022	Ripe	Pleiades	fruit,senses,
9/29/2022	Quail	Pleiades	bird,
9/9/2022	Summer Fun Rains	Light Verse	fun,rain,senses,sound,
7/26/2022	In Pursuit of Love	Lyric	longing,love,
7/11/2022	Farewell Friend	Rhyme	death,life,
6/29/2022	When Love Flies Away	Rhyme	loss,love,
6/28/2022	Whirling Watermelon Ride	Rhyme	fantasy,fun,
6/7/2022	Old Man	Rhyme	history,life,mirror,
5/18/2022	Love That Lasts	Abecedarian	care,character,love,
5/16/2022	Mysterious Trees	Rhyme	mystery,nature,tree,
5/13/2022	To the One	Sonnet	child,prayer,spiritual,
5/10/2022	A Little Drama	Free verse	nature,water,wind,
5/5/2022	The Clothes Line	Rhyme	fun,joy,
3/18/2022	Cormorant	Haiku	bird,sea,
3/17/2022	Kingfisher	Imagism	bird,sea,
3/7/2022	Ukraine	Free verse	imagery,peace,war,
3/6/2022	Port To Port	Free verse	friendship,sports,togethe
3/3/2022	Sunflower Dreams	Haiku	flower,nature,
2/23/2022	Hairpins	Free verse	age,beauty,
2/9/2022	Bubble Dreams 2	Couplet	dream,fantasy,
1/16/2022	Hidden	Haiku	animal,winter,
1/12/2022	On a Prayer	Rhyme	angel,spiritual,
12/29/2021	Respite	Haiku	bird,winter,
12/28/2021	Lord of the Skies	Rhyme	power,weather,
12/24/2021	Morning Revival	Rhyme	nature,
12/18/2021	Crickets	Rhyme	anti bullying,care,emotio
12/14/2021	Silent Soliloquy	Verse	butterfly,flower,nature,
12/13/2021	Zephyr	Free verse	baby,blessing,love,
12/12/2021	Angel	Acrostic	angel,
12/11/2021	A Simple Winter Wish	Rhyme	christian,christmas,
12/11/2021	Reverie of Wintertime	Quintain (English)	christmas,winter,
12/1/2021	Hear the Word	Lyric	christian,hope,
11/7/2021	Zen Garden	Abecedarian	garden,
11/4/2021	Tucumcari	Free verse	history,usa,
11/1/2021	To Kiss a Rainbow Goodbye	Free verse	child,loss,love,
10/30/2021	Escape	Free verse	change,peace,places,
10/26/2021	Sounds of the Subway	Rhyme	city,sound,
10/26/2021	Blessings To Share	Tanka	blessing,giving,thanksgiv
10/26/2021	Illuminate My Heart	Rhyme	christian,prayer,
10/15/2021	Only Him	Lyric	song,spiritual,
10/14/2021	Bird of Prey	Haiku	bird,
10/13/2021	Ghost Bride	Rhyme	dark,scary,
10/11/2021	Islands of Rest	Free verse	christian,
9/26/2021	Moods of October	Free verse	autumn,seasons,
9/23/2021	Jubilee	Couplet	fantasy,happy,joy,
9/2/2021	Guardian	Haiku	nature,
8/28/2021	Drifter	Free verse	adventure,feelings,freedo
8/27/2021	Black As Black	Enclosed Rhyme	dark,death,
8/23/2021	Hypnotic	Free verse	beauty,feelings,ocean,
8/13/2021	Breakthrough	Free verse	flower,hope,
8/3/2021	The Void In My Heart	Free verse	death,grief,sad,
6/15/2021	The Charm of the Woods	Free verse	nature,solitude,
6/13/2021	Her Shape	Free verse	beauty,water,
6/9/2021	Love Always Sees	Free verse	5th grade,happy,love,
6/7/2021	The Arbor	Free verse	nature,
5/29/2021	Wildflowers and Tangled Memories	Rhyme	childhood,emotions,memory
5/28/2021	Smitten	Free verse	love,romance,
5/21/2021	A Rose Is Like No Other	Ode	beauty,flower,
5/19/2021	Giving Godly Grace	Acrostic	christian,spiritual,
5/19/2021	Sunflower	Acrostic	beauty,flower,love,
5/15/2021	The Valley	Free verse	beauty,earth,
4/4/2021	Omnipresent	Pleiades	christian,easter,spiritua
1/17/2021	Psalm To the Artist	Free verse	beauty,creation,sky,soulm
11/24/2020	The Little Things	Verse	friendship love,giving,

My Photos

ps_0e4f7ad9-0031-489a-b31f-f08be8a50dbe.jpeg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
Love In the Silence of the Soul	Narrative	death,love,sorrow,
Slow Walking Talker	Rhyme	adventure,baptism,beautif
A Song For Pansy	Rhyme	history,
Just Before Dark	Rhyme	dark,imagery,imagination,
The Nightingale Lost Her Lamp	Free verse	courage,life,lost,love,pa
Hand Puppets- For Contest	Free verse	introspection,
The Journey	Rhyme	appreciation,child,daught
Mirror of Memories - For Contest	Free verse	family,fear,
Love One Another	I do not know?	death,depression,hate,hop
Without Lament	Sonnet	introspection,
Christmas With Christ To Look Upon His Face	Quatrain	angel,baby,inspirational,
We'Ll Always Have San Andreas	Alliteration	depression,relationship,s
One Green Leaf	Verse	color,green,holiday,image
Abandoned Flowers	Sonnet	allegory,death,flower,sad
The Skeleton Coast	Free verse	sea,
A Thawing of Hearts - For Contest	Haibun	animal,death,friendship,
A Leash-Led Life	Free verse	animal,autumn,dog,nature,
Chasing the Sun	Couplet	angst,
Before Birth	Free verse	christian,faith,heaven,
The Tears of Stars	Couplet	imagination,stars,
An Ebony Tether	Sonnet	beautiful,imagery,imagina
All I Am	Free verse	longing,
Reality Slumbers	Blank verse	beautiful,color,imagery,i
Still In Love	Verse	dance,happiness,love,marr
As Father Is To His Daughter	Free verse	father,introspection,word
The Mariner	Free verse	adventure,
Doorway To Dreams	Verse	dream,myth,psychological,
The River of No Return	Epitaph	absence,beauty,destiny,fa
A Cathartic Weave of Three	Free verse	break up,celebration,devo
Grounded	Sonnet	identity,
Moonlight Lanyard	Free verse	moon,passion,soulmate,tru
Crystals of Starlight	Sonnet	beautiful,hyperbole,image
The Light of Day	Quatrain	beautiful,beauty,imagery,
Melodies of the Heart	Free verse	analogy,love,music,romant
The Astonishing Serenity of Eventide	Rhyme	beauty,nature,
Melancholic Tree	Free verse	analogy,assonance,deep,sa
Bring To Life- the Clothes Peg	Rhyme	humor,
Asp of Grief	Rhyme	beauty,death,grief,
Oh How I Adore Thee	Pantoum	god,love,
Falling From the Heights	Sonnet	death,
Solitude By the Reverie	Free verse	dream,solitude,
Rainy Days and Mondays	Free verse	color,memory,pain,rain,
Haiku - Bashful	Haiku	day,metaphor,nature,sea,w
sea song -	Free verse	analogy,appreciation,beac
Another Time	Dramatic Verse	age,identity,
Haiku	Haiku	summer,
Faithful Mcgee	Light Verse	humor,humorous,
The Glory of the Eastern Edge	Free verse	appreciation,beauty,image
Love Kiss	Quatrain	lust,passion,romantic,sen
Wind Song	Blank verse	write,
My Destiny, You	Haibun	longing,love,
The Red Leaf	Free verse	death,emotions,grief,hear
Of Mountain Things	Rhyme	mountains,people,
Fragmented Thoughts	Free verse	bereavement,loss,wife,
All That Was	Sonnet	introspection,life,
Beneath a Blanket of Snow	Rhyme	christian,god,gospel,grie
The Maker of the Stars	Lyric	destiny,meaningful,prayer
The Wind and Sea	Tritina	sea,wind,
Silent Reverie	Free verse	analogy,deep,life,
Night Shoes	Iambic Pentameter	night,
The Cross	Sonnet	christian,love,
Winter Wonderland	Sonnet	imagery,magic,snow,symbol
This Is Love	Alliteration	passion,romantic love,tru
The Night Grandma Broke Wind	Rhyme	funny,humor,humorous,
Island Aloha	Rispetto	animal,beautiful,memory,p
Drama of the Day Star's Demise	Imagism	beauty,day,image,nature,s
Fragility of Fate	Free verse	death,love,love hurts,
Gray Silence	Prose Poetry	love,
The Whip of Your Selfish Whims	Free verse	desire,emotions,longing,l
The Butterfly Nebula	Rhyme	beauty,nature,sky,stars,
Not My Choice	Rhyme	simple,words,
The Thunder Rolls	Imagism	anxiety,dark,storm,
A Million Fairytales	Rhyme	beautiful,imagery,
Against the Ashes of the Fire	Pantoum	autumn,earth,environment,
Nested In the Umbrage	Free verse	cancer,death,friend,
For the Sparrow	Rhyme	beautiful,bird,flying,fre
- Up In Flames -	Free verse	emotions,lost,missing,poe
Seagull Semantics	Pantoum	beach,bird,conflict,ocean
Those Who Dream	Free verse	angel,dream,evil,fantasy,
The Wall	Rhyme	birthday,character,child,
A Strange Galaxy	Free verse	stars,
Cityscape	Free verse	art,city,night,perspectiv
Folly of Autumn's Fog	Free verse	age,autumn,life,nature,ol
Sherlock Holmes and the Mysterious Case of Appundicitis	Rhyme	friend,
Single Flower, In Winter's Grip	Haiku	art,bereavement,dark,deat
Amid the Jagged Shadows	Free verse	dark,fear,
Goodbyes	Verse	extended metaphor,goodbye
Colors of My Day	Lyric	color,love,romantic love,
A Dream Once Forgotten	Free verse	dream,longing,
Free Verse Fever	Free verse	appreciation,inspirationa
The Starlings Descend	Free verse	poetry,
Time	Rhyme	time,
To You Alone	Lyric	god,jesus,prayer,
The Mustard Seed	Couplet	children,earth,flower,nur
Petals - Silence of Heartbeats	Free verse	assonance,love,sensual,
Canyon Reverie Constanza	Rhyme	autumn,nature,wind,
Quietus	Free verse	angst,conflict,dark,depre
Aubade	Free verse	life,love,wisdom,
On Feminine Wings	Free verse	appreciation,dance,endura
Induced Interludes	Free verse	fantasy,metaphor,surreal,

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Silent One	United Kingdom	Read
Viv Wigley	United Kingdom	Read
Gregory Richard Barden	United States	Read
Craig Cornish	United States	Read
Carrie Richards	United States	Read
Constance La France	Canada	Read
Connie Marcum Wong	United States	Read
Eileen Manassian	_Not Listed	Read
Nette Onclaud	Philippines	Read
Susan Ashley	United States	Read
Kim Rodrigues	United States	Read
Laura Leiser	United States	Read
John Watt	United States	Read
Chris Green	United States	Read
James Inman	United States	Read
Richard Lamoureux	Canada	Read
Frederic Parker	United States	Read
Lu Loo	United States	Read
John Hamilton	Canada	Read
Sandra Adams	United States	Read
Anthony Biaanco	United States	Read
Quoth Theraven	United States	Read
Rob Carmack	United States	Read
Regina Mcintosh	United States	Read
David Mchattie	Canada	Read
Andrew Crisci	United States	Read
njv Tomcatx	United States	Read
Susan Woodrow	Fiji	Read
Rhonda Johnson-Saunders	United States	Read
Sam Kauffman	United States	Read
Joseph May	United States	Read
Paul Callus	Malta	Read
Mark Massey	United States	Read
John Gondolf	United States	Read
Suzanne Delaney	United States	Read
Dale Gregory Cozart	United States	Read
Tom Cunningham	United Kingdom	Read
Evelyn Judy Buehler	United States	Read
Beata Agustin	Philippines	Read
Joanna Daniel	India	Read
Michelle Faulkner	United States	Read
Mystic Rose Rose	Canada	Read
Greg Gaul	United States	Read
Gary Radice	United Kingdom	Read
Eve Roper	United States	Read
Jeff Kyser	United States	Read
Anne-Lise Andresen	Norway	Read
Susan Lawrence	United States	Read
Brian Sambourne	Canada	Read
Daniel Turner	United States	Read