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, the smile is the 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

Alan... a nice rememberance for some one you probably only met once, seems like she had a impact on your life... line1 stanza 2 'Truly, smile is lady' is sort of confusing not sure how or what you mean by this line... maybe a clarification? maybe "a smile is a lady" ??
Steve

Hi Alan,

First this is beautiful. A reader doesn't even need to know or learn about the person given tribute, it stands strong as it is - It is always a gift to meet someone who leaves such a positive impression and gives direction for our lives... and this is surely a gift in return...

I really don't think there is much to change or to reconsider, you've already done the finer tuning on this and I just went along for the read of pleasure and enlightment...



This passage is my favorite. I actually felt that this spoke of deeper more metaphorical intentions and I will probably return to this passage for further contemplating and inspriation.


Hugs, Liz

Hi Alan,

This is my very favorite part...

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

I think they should change those words on the lady to:

Sorry dude...we don't have any more room...we will send the Coast Guard after you if you try to sneak in...which seems to be the policy of the US during my lifetime..

I would hope that the US would remember what happened to Rome...when it got too big for its britches...also..David and Goliath There is a moral in that somewhere! Judi

Dear Judy,

Thanks for the visit. I if you don't mind will not comment on the politics, but that thought came to me, and all I had to do was change "masses" to "voices" to express what Amanda Ambrose did for people in her voice classes

Love
Alan

Sorry Alan,

Your "lady" deserves your wonderful poem...it just brought to mind the inscription on the "lady" I mentioned that reflected the words you wrote about...I didn't expect a reply,,,I loved those words...they were special to me in my youth,

Dear Judi,

Re the apology, not needed ! I was not trying to tell you off, just steering clear of areas I know have a lot of heat in them.

Amanda was amazing, as I try to show.

Love
Alan

Hi Alan,

This was indeed a beautiful tribute. I am not familiar with the lady thus your kind words may prompt me to look her up.

~~ Jackie

Dear Jackie,

Thank you, in which case my objective has been achieved !

Love
Alan