LIBERTY OF AMBROSIA

alanmdouglas · 10-28-2007, 04:01 PM

Dear Friends,

In Memoriam Amanda Ambrose, 1925 - 2007

I knew the jazz singer and voice teacher Amanda Ambrose slightly when she did some voice classes at an Arts Festival in 1995, and wrote and gave her this tribute poem at that time. She sort of "stopped" when she read it.

For non-Americans, the last 2 lines are a slight variation of what it says on the Statue of Liberty - I changed "masses" to "voices", so it had huge significance to her.
__________________________________________________ _________________

LIBERTY OF AMBROSIA

17 July 1995

Divine inspiration, simplicity and truth :
"Were you ever stopped from singing?"
Affirmation shakes the rafters;
voice training can begin.

Truly, smile is lady -
such infection should be quarantined,
lest it get out. Beware bad world :
Amanda speaks and sings.

Great gods neglect their nectar -
balanced on edge of clouds
better to drink beauty's
voice, and being's wisdom :

Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled voices yearning to be free.

Alan McAlpine Douglas

Mysty · 10-28-2007, 05:44 PM

Wow Alan....... such a magnificent tribute .... I am glad she was able to read it before she passed. Beautiful Hon.

Mysty

alanmdouglas · 10-29-2007, 06:42 PM

Dear Mysty,

Hello there !

Thank you for your comment - in fact, she read it when I wrote it, way back in 1995.

Love
Alan

nomadicrhymer · 10-30-2007, 02:00 AM

Alan, this is a lovely ode to the captivating Amanda Ambrose...She must have been in love with it! It's nice to see u in print again, Grumps!!

Nomad

alanmdouglas · 11-01-2007, 04:23 AM

Dear Therese,

Thank you very much. She did seem to have a moment without a heartbeat when I gave it to her !

Love
Alan

MsJacquiiC · 11-21-2007, 06:33 AM

The Following Text Is Quoted:

Originally Posted by alanmdouglas

Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled voices yearning to be free.

Wow - A very inspired tribute indeed - I just love the use of voices instead of masses GRUMPS - it's a lovely poem - And says so much - Ms. Ambrose must have really been something special to inspire such a write - I'm sure she enjoyed it = I know I did!

Thanx for the share AND hope to see you online more often!

Jacquii.