In honor of Memorial Day, a poem presented by invitation at the dedication of the Billard Commemorative Park and Veterans Memorial in Mandarin, Jacksonville, Florida, November 14, 2007. The park was developed and is owned by Mandarin Community Club. The roots of the club date to World War I, when Mandarin residents formed the Liberty League to provide blankets to soldiers and sell war bonds.

Kay was quoted on her feeling after the reading, "Some of you know me as a journalist; those who know me personally know my most passionate calling is poetry. I presented a poem for the dedication of the Mandarin Community Club's Billard Park and Veterans' Memorial. I wanted to share it with you as a tribute to Memorial Day and the sacrifices made on our country's behalf. I've read poetry in many places, but even reading at the US Library of Congress did not come close to the intense feelings I had as I presented this poem to my community. I wanted to share it with each of you as a reminder of what we have been given and the importance of preserving special places. 'Numinous' doesn't even come close"

The Language of Place

Some places speak
the bluster of boys who toss hope
on a line with a cork at the end
into the rhythm of a river flowing North
heedless of gravity, bearing the heavy load of change.

Some places sing
the laughter of girls drawing squares
in sand, chanting hopscotch and rosies,
giggles refraining like small bells nudged by the wind;
sing the tenor of young men
scuffling over football beneath a crisp autumn sky,
and the putting up of apple butter on a late summer
morning, glass jars glistening on a checkered cloth;
intone hymns of the hard-working
who set hope upon faith,
sung in christenings and weddings and lamentations.

Some places whisper
like a companion walking alongside,
hand cupped on your elbow,
reassuring, reminding
you who you are
where you came from
where you will go.

This place
assumes the shape of many hearts,
tethers the flesh of promises,
honors the numinous sacrifices

and this place shouts
I am worth your keeping.

Kay Day is a member of the following American Society of Journalists and Authors, The Authors Guild, Society of Professional Journalists and Online News Association. She also operates the a blog that can be seen at www.kayday.com or www.coveringflorida.blogspot.com