Philippine literature is sure priceless. However, there are times that you just can’t avoid but to like poetry works made by other countries, right? Well, people have different ways on how to touch someone’s heart through their literary works.
Are you familiar with the American poem called Nancy Hanks written by Rosemary and Stephen Vinent Benet? This is a poetry work that tells about the idea of Nancy Hanks (the late Abraham Lincoln’s mother) coming back as a ghost and asking for her beloved son. Abe’s mother, Nancy, died when he was just nine years old. You might not be thoroughly familiar with the 16th US President Abraham Lincoln but just by reading this poem, it will give you a brief idea on what life he went through.
Surprisingly, the poem Nancy Hanks got a poem reply from Julius Silberger. The short yet touching poem gave a good impact to most of the readers. Since then, both poems were published as one whole poem. More of like two connected stories. So before your anticipation dies out, here are the poems about the famous Abe and his mother:
Nancy Hanks
If Nancy Hanks
Came back as a ghost,
Seeking news
Of what she loved most,
She’d ask first
“Where’s my son?
What’s happened to Abe?
What’s he done?”
“Poor little Abe,
Left all alone.
Except for Tom,
Who’s a rolling stone;
He was only nine,
The year I died.
I remember still
How hard he cried.”
“Scraping along
In a little shack,
With hardly a shirt
To cover his back,
And a prairie wind
To blow him down,
Or pinching times
If he went to town.”
“You wouldn’t know
About my son?
Did he grow tall?
Did he have fun?
Did he learn to read?
Did he get to town?
Do you know his name?
Did he get on?”
- Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benet
A Reply To Nancy Hanks
Yes, Nancy Hanks,
The news we will tell
Of your Abe
Whom you loved so well.
You asked first,
“Where’s my son?”
He lives in the heart
Of everyone.
Julius Silberger
Touching right? The words used were simple yet you can clearly feel what emotions the authors would like to impart. It would be great if there are Filipino poems like these, or do you know one? Well, even you can make a good poem like these, you just need to pour out that passion for writing bottled up inside you.
