Let's Mend

As our world seems increasingly fragmented and divisive, we’re looking for interconnectedness, interdependence, and intersectionalities–a way of weaving all of our gifts into one tapestry. We find these tapestries in the arts. And we find them in the wisdom and creativity of artists and activists like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who dreamed of a world in which we all walk hand-in-hand together in freedom and peace. We will continue to explore the wisdom of Dr. King and other activists in the upcoming months. Today’s blog features a triptych of arts responses to the woven tapestry that connects and intersects our humanity: a powerful quote from Maya Angelou, a new poem I wrote, and a mesmerizing video of Connor Chee’s piano piece “Weaving,” synchronized with a Diné weaver’s hands as they form a rug of interdependent strands of wool.

President Obama presents Maya Angelou with the Presidential Medal of Freedom 2011.  Photo: Office of the White House, Public Domain.

Maya Angelou recites her poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration, 1993. Photo: William J. Clinton Presidential Library, Public Domain.

Poet, author, and sage Maya Angelou wrote,

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry,

And we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry

are equal in value no matter what their color.”

In her wisdom, Angelou uses the metaphor of a tapestry to invite us to celebrate diversity, the beautiful colors, and the unique gifts each person brings to the world.

She appeals to us to treat every person with dignity and respect.

To see and affirm one another's strengths.

One another's shared humanity.

Without equity, we are missing essential threads in our tapestry that allow us to be complete.

To be strong and resilient to withstand challenges.

To connect.

To mend.

Let's Mend

Each note I compose,

Each drop of ink,

Only holds the power to move people to tears,

    to love,   

or to heal,

If it exists in compassion, sensitivity,

    and empathy

    to each other note around it.

Each person on this land,

Each drop of blood,

Only holds the power to help this planet survive

If we are like a weaving in which each thread

    is equally strong and supported,

    knowing that if one thread fails,

    the entire tapestry unravels.

But if every thread is protected,

    each thread helps support the other threads.

Let there be harmony.

Let the chorus sing!

Let equity shower opportunities on all.

Let there be dissatisfaction so we are not blinded by seeing.

Let there be a metamorphosis of meaningful connection.

Let the earth breathe the air.

Let the air raise the wings of mercy.

Let peace and love prevail.

Let love be our breath.

Let the fabric be woven.

Let's mend.

-©Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra, January 2026

Connor Chee (of Diné heritage) depicts a woven tapestry in this beautiful video, where he performs his mesmerizing composition Weaving, filmed in collaboration with a Diné traditional rug weaver. Listen to how Connor matched gestures from the weaver’s hands with rolled chords in his piano piece, an optimal model of our interdependence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0oS3zM1puI

FAQs

1. How can writing poetry help us express our feelings?

Sometimes, life situations feel too painful to express in conversation, particularly right after something devastating happens. Poetry can help us distill our feelings into key words or emotions. With poetry, we can expand our expressions by using imagery, metaphors, similes, and various poetic devices such as alliteration (when the first sounds of consecutive words are similar, such as “Wild winds and waves awaken our wounds.”), assonance (when internal sounds are similar, as in “Round about town, profound sounds bounced down.”), itemization (the “Let the…” sequence above). We can also build on poetry over time, as we start to process our feelings.

2. Is free poetry different from writing song lyrics?

Frequently, yes. In song lyrics, writers and musicians often write metered poetry: they plan out the number of syllables per line, and then repeat those same numbers in consecutive stanzas (verses). Creating repeating patterns such as 6.6.10.6.6.10. (each number refers to how many syllables appear per line) makes it much easier for a composer to write music to the text, and it helps people who sing and listen to the text remember and memorize it more quickly and retain it longer.

For example, in 1900, James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) wrote these opening lines to “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” which is now called the Black National Anthem. Note how he alternates two lines of six syllables with one line of ten syllables. His rhyme scheme is aab ccb (lines 1 and 2, 4 and 5, and 3 and 6 each rhyme), and he uses alliteration with the letter “r”.

“Lift ev’ry voice and sing, (6)

Till earth and heaven ring, (6)

Ring with the harmonies of liberty; (10)

Let our rejoicing rise (6)

High as the list’ning skies, (6)

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.” (10)

Credit: ©1921 by Edward B. Marks Music Company. Copyright Renewed.

As is true in metered poetry for song lyrics, free poetry is often more memorable when some structure exists. In the free poetry I wrote for today’s blog, although I didn’t use the same number of syllables per line or end each line with rhyming words, I repeated the first words Each, Only, and If in the first four lines of the first two stanzas. In the third stanza, I used itemization by repeating the word Let at the beginning of each line. This structure builds unity and has a crescendo effect. I played on the word Let to segue into the culminating line and  theme of the poem, “Let’s Mend.”

Poetry offers us endless possibilities for creative expression of our stories and emotions.

I invite you to try it!