Blessed is the Free Spirit – A Kwansaba

Posted byChristine BoltonPosted inBlog, LoveTags:, ,

Blessed is the Free Spirit

My only son stands tall and strong
and more like me than I know
Working hard for his own self esteem
The wealth of love’s labors is shared
I cherish his first gift to me
Furry rabbit’s foot that still brings luck
A little gypsy in his old soul


Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved


Grace is hosting the final D'Verse Poets for this year.
The pub will reopen on January 3rd.
She has prompted us with the Kwansaba.

Kwansaba is an African American verse form of praise. The Kwansaba, (swahili kwan – first fruit / saba -principle) was created in 1995 by Eugene B Redmond, East St. Louis Poet Laureate and professor of English at Southern Illinois University-East St. Louis. The form was developed in honor of the celebration of Kwanzaa . The poetic form adopts the number 7 from Kwanzaa’s Nguzo Saba (7 principles) as well as embraces its roots in the South African tradition of the Praise Poem.

*Unity, family
*Self Determination
*Work Collectively
*Cooperative economics
*Purpose
*Creativity
*Faith

The defining features of Kwansaba are:

1.a celebration of family and African-American culture, a praise poem.
2.a septastich, a poem in 7 lines.  (To be clear, it is only 1 stanza).
3. measured by 7 words in each line.
4. written with no word exceeding 7 letters.

Published by Christine Bolton

I have been writing poetry since I was a child and it has helped in the good times and bad times. I am always looking within to find the answers to life's problems and to write thought-provoking poetry and prose. Thanks for checking it out. Christine

33 thoughts on “Blessed is the Free Spirit – A Kwansaba”

    1. Thank you Lucy. I am blessed to have such a wonderful son. He was always kind and thoughtful as a child and that rabbits foot made me giggle when I got it ☺️💕. I think he knew I needed luck.

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    1. Selma, thank you! I found your lovely comment in my spam box just now 😦 Wishing you a Merry Christmas too. I hope you enjoy it. Warm wishes ☺️💕

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    1. Thank you Regina. I loved learning about this form. It makes you really think before you write. Merry Christmas my friend ☺️💕🥰

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  8. May the joy of the season fill your heart here at the closing if the year 2021, and may peace abide in 2022. This is a most difficult time for our planet earth, and a time of turmoil for its peoples. May 2022 begin the way back! ✌🏼❤️🌎

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  9. Christine — May the joy of the season fill your heart here at the closing if the year 2021, and may peace abide in 2022. This is a most difficult time for our planet earth, and a time of turmoil for its peoples. May 2022 begin the way back! ✌🏼❤️🌎

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    1. Dear Rob, thank you for your kind wishes. I send them back to you for the coming year. May you find better health and continue to write beautiful poetry which I enjoy so much. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year my friend ☺️💕

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  10. I cut your site. I can read your biography. So nice share your family background & your experience. I like. I read some your written your blog. Beautiful written you.✍️ So important words use in poem. Beautiful written poem. Iam so happy.🙏

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  12. This is beautifully done, Christine. And this is an amazing form I’ll be sure to try. Hope you’ve been well. Don’t see you on the reader much these days, but then again, it might be me that’s off the reader too much. Anyway, just a little friendly missing. 💖💖🌼

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    1. Dear Jude, thank you my friend. 💕☺️. I have two new year resolutions so far. One is definitely to be on the reader a lot more in 2022. I also want to finish my book of poetry and publish. It was supposed to happen two years ago and life got in the way. The diversion gave me the opportunity to write a different style of poetry so maybe I wasn’t meant to do it then. Happy holidays Jude! Lovely to hear from you. ☺️❤️

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      2. Happy Holidays to you too Jude. Wishing you all the very best and a happy new year to you. Warm wishes ☺️💕

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  14. Oh my heart this is so beautifully tender, Christine! Happy Holidays to you and yours 🙂 See you in 2022 💝💝

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    1. Thank you dear Sanaa. I wish you happy holidays too. I hope the New Year brings you everything you desire. Warm wishes my friend ☺️💕

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