Project White Flag-Heartsong by Mattie JT Stepanek

I have a song, deep in my heart,

And only I can hear it.

If I close my eyes and sit very still

It is so easy to listen to my song.

When my eyes are open and

I am so busy and moving and busy,

If I take time and listen very hard,

I can still hear my heart-song.

It makes me feel happy.

Happier than ever.

Happier than everywhere

And everything and everyone

In the whole wide world.

Happy like thinking about

Going to Heaven when I die.

My Heartsong sounds like this ---

I love you! I love you!

How happy you can be!

How happy you can make

This whole world be!

And sometimes it’s other

Tunes and words, too, 

But it always sings the 

Same special feeling to me.

It makes me think of 

Jamie, and Katie and Stevie,

And other wonderful things.

This is myspecial song.

But do you know what?

Everyonehas a special song

Inside their hearts!

Everyone in the whole wide world

Has their own special Heartsong.

If you believe in magical, musical hearts,

And if you believe you canbe happy,

Then you, too, will hear yoursong.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek

March 8, 1996 (Age 5)

Used with permission

In Journey Through Heartsongs(Hyperion, 2002)

Project White Flag-Memory and Retrospect by Walter C. Harris

Memory and Retrospect

"1-
Life's retrospect brings to one and all
A maze of joy and sorrow;
And things we count as joy today
Oft brings a sad tomorrow.
2-
Back thru the corridors of time
Along the way we came,
Fond memory points to scenes sublime
And scenes that bring us shame.
3-
Since only once we pass this way
Why spend our time lamenting.
For life, while in this house of clay
Means sinning and repenting.
4-
Alas for him who does not feel
Each day he needs a savior:
And daily pleads with Christ to heal
And pardon ill-behavior.
5-
The blood that reached and cleansed today
Has lost no power tomorrow:
That fount was opened wide for aye,
A balm for sin and sorrow."

*Pastor Walter C. Harris
Long Branch West Virginia
June 29, 1934

https://sites.google.com/view/waltercharris/

Project White Flag-And Here We Are Again Worrying About War by Patricia Thrushart

The white flag is a shawl,
fringed and torn
embroidered with blood-red poppies
and passion flowers
fluttering on the shoulders 
of Ukrainian grandmothers,
whose silver-haired heads are
crowned with sorrow
as they remember wars past
and fear more war 
tomorrow. 

— Patricia Thrushart

https://patriciathrushart.com

W.C. Harris Appalachian Poet & Preacher

Great Grandfather Reverend W.C. Harris Appalachian Poet & Preacher ​1876-1936 ​Pax West Virginia Prestonsburg Kentucky https://sites.google.com/view/waltercharris/…… https://studioappalachia.com/wc-harris.html *photo 1919 Jonesville Virginia

Project White Flag-On Heartsongs by Philip Kent Church

Remembering Philip Church & Mattie Stepanek

Thank you Jeni Smith Stepanek for reposting this poem

ON HEARTSONGS

Dedicated to Poet Mattie J. T. Stepanek

PHILIP KENT CHURCH

~

There’s a wondrous place, when seen in context,

Which exists and then passes, before the speaking of a word,

It lies just beyond what’s occurred, and what happens next,

And if one listens carefully – it’s where ‘heartsongs’ are heard.

The notions of past and future are merely what we insist,

Both the last moment and the next are beyond our affect,

The truth is, this moment is the only time we actually exist.

And only have the here and now where we can have effect.

Vain-glorious pursuits can become so self-defeating.

When a heart’s songs are recorded, be wise as sages,

Bearing in mind - both riches and fame are fleeting.

Heartsongs must be inscribed to stand the test of ages.

Be still and listen in your heart for the echo from above,

Listening close in a peaceful moment of no fear or panic,

You can hear the heartsongs - recognized for their love,

And join the ranks of ‘peace-makers’ –

Like MATTIE STEPANEK!

https://www.facebook.com/Philip-Kent-Church-1409887615889348/

Project White Flag-A Painting of Peace by Cory Tambourine

A painting of peace
Strokes of silence
Calm green serene
Absence of violence
Freed from struggle
A beautiful way
A painting of peace
A quiet day

-Cory Tambourine

Project White Flag-We Are Builders by Amy K.

(y)our words
hold a mighty power
to build up
and to tear down

maturation
of the spirit
gives the strength
to control the impulse
to destroy

so the gifts
of words
and wit
and wisdom
and where-with-all

aren't used

in a harmful way.

we can give
kindness
love
forgiveness
gratitude
praise
hope
empathy
caring
understanding

with our words

on
purpose.

(thank you God.)

Amy K.
February 2008
Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia

Project White Flag-For Our World by Mattie JT Stepanek

 

Project White Flag

Project White Flag is a peace initiative that was inspired by Mattie JT Stepanek and his Mom Jeni (Mama Peace) @ www.mattieonline.com Project White Flag encourages poetry and art supporting peace during these difficult days and provides a platform to inclusively share that work. Submit poems using the form below or artwork by contacting studioappal@gmail.com. * Project White Flag Vector by Brain Goff. 2021 Visit the Project White Flag Blog @ https://studioappal.blogspot.com/ Get Inspired in your own community, host a Project White Flag poetry reading for peace at your local library and share your poetry with us.
*Founded in Winter 2021 Revised Winter 2023/Autumn 2025
​studioappal.blogspot.com

https://www.studioappalachia.com/project-white-flag.html

VPI

A redesigned logo for @virginia_tech by Alumni T. Byron Kelly is based on the old gate engraving at the University in Blacksburg Virginia. #virginiatech

Great Great Great Grandmother Todd

Great Great Great Grandmother Todd and her Sisters Eastern Kentucky 1900 http://studioappalachia.com

Spectral Arts

Visit Spectral Arts @

https://www.studioappalachia.com/spectral-arts.html

https://twitter.com/spectralartsva

https://spectralartsva.blogspot.com

Project End of Days

In 1999 T. Byron Kelly began gathering his poems for a final comprehensive collection of his poetry he called Project End of Days @ https://sites.google.com/view/peod-archive

Studio Appalachia

SA currently produces music from the artists of Spectral Arts, Project Morning Star, Cinema X and Ghost House Collective. Poetry & Art by T. Byron Kelly, W.C. Harris, Dark Horse Poets, Outlaw Poets, North/South Appalachia & the Virginia/West Virginia Arts Outreach @ http://studioappalachia.com