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The National Liberty Museum—
little known destination in the heart
of Philadelphia—knocks my socks
off.
It makes no attempt to be a textbook—
as it is incomplete—but tells
stories
of people who expanded liberty.
Around each bend and up each
stairwell lie
words and photos, artifacts and
glass work
that illustrate this human quest
we share,
and celebrate heroes who stood against
misery and injustice, as well as those
who
rescued victims of terrorism and
poverty.
Artwork in glass—fragile, transparent
and
prismatic—like a 20 foot tall
flame—
reminds me freedom itself is
fragile.
Interactive exhibits ask guests
“How can we live like heroes?” and
“What
freedom is most precious to you
today?”
Spell it out or draw it, express
it in
oil paint or glass—art and experience
ground us in what we value and how
far
we’d go to keep it. When it is absent
or fractured, the invisible
character
Liberty becomes tangible again.
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| "The warm glow of the Flame of Liberty – crafted for the National Liberty Museum by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly – emerges through the center of this gallery. This 21-foot glass flame represents the power of liberty to spread from a spark and light the way forward. The exhibits surrounding this flame feature heroes of all backgrounds who have kept the fire burning." |
For my prompt Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Museum(s).
Note: This is not the poem I thought I'd write on memory and lifelong collections and even on museums of annihilation. Sigh. I've struggled with this for hours! Usually I write my poem before reading the rest at Poets United, but this day didn't work out that way, and I didn't want to repeat motifs in your poems, dear Poets United. So instead, I treat you to a museum I don't quite understand, but continue to be drawn to. I think the fascination is the yearning in the glass, something I'd never noticed before.
My blog poems are rough drafts.
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© 2019 Susan L. Chast
This must be such an inspiring place to visit, Susan. How to live like a hero jumps out at me, as we are seeing the young anti-gun activists, and young Greta leading the charge on addressing climate change, and many other voices being raised. They give me hope. I really enjoyed your poem. It is good such places exist, to educate and inspire.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it strange when visiting a museum we are touched in a different ways after see one exhibit or the other. I am touched by the past but perhaps our current generation of youth think of the futue and of what they can do better or create. Then thinking back I realize that is how I felt too when younger.
ReplyDeleteMuseums are great places to visit especially for children as they absorb the reality of life and evolution in the natural world, science and technology and of course in human development showing the struggle to be where we are today after the horrors of the past.
ReplyDeleteLike the idea of interactive exhibits... and that question is so poignant/ relevant today: “How can we live like heroes?” and “What
ReplyDeletefreedom is most precious to you today?”
Museums are fantastic places, Susan. I was climbing the stairs with you.
ReplyDeleteMuseums are articulate spaces, reminding or awakening us to the depth and magic of our historic selves. The deepest book on the shelf .... how wonderful this museum, with its adept care for the yearning for freedom and celebrating those willing to carry that yearning so far. What a burden remains for a nation whose very independence was rapt with chains. Great challenge Susan, and great poem.
ReplyDeleteYour poem made me want to visit and share in the wonder too
ReplyDeleteSo great to have a museum like this where you live. The Flame of Liberty is particularly inspiring. "...freedom itself is fragile." The line immediately takes me to the happenings worldwide.
ReplyDeleteThis one sparks my interest it doesn't sound like ye ole ones. This one you have reported to be a work in progress, asking us to add our definitions
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped by to read mine. Thanks for a lovely prompt
Much❤🕊❤love
Wow! What a tour around the flame it must be...I have never been to the United States. I would like to go to this museum someday.
ReplyDeleteLove it, Susan. So visual it sends me there again. About all I could remember was the Liberty Bell. That was back in about 1984. US and KP in an eight-year-old Plymouth driving from Texas to the Carolinas up to Maine, stopping along the way, over to Niagra Falls, through Canada to Detroit, down to Nebraska and Iowa (relatives and parents) and back to Texas. Weve been to all 50 states, that helped.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting this week, it was a wonderful prompt to write for.
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Your entusiasm, is contagious. Good to be inspired by creativity.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful museum to visit. I love the photo you posted.
ReplyDelete“What / freedom is most precious to you today?” This quote will stay with me for a while. The same goes for the concept of incompleteness, when it comes to history and... and to liberty.
ReplyDelete