I held strong on the day you were born I listened as you took your first breath I watched as people stared in awe of you for the first time I felt their love surround you like a warm blanket, Their joy and praise for you beamed for everyone to see. I was there for your first steps My earth gave you joy as you crawled, stepped and climbed Adventures surrounding the both of us were never boring. Through your experiences we explored to no end. We grew together you and me. I have heard your joyous laughter And I hold it deep within my roots, Your silent moments linger in the air With sweet anticipation of what your thoughts may offer For our future. I gave you shelter when the world around you Came crashing in, And you felt like there was no place to go. I gave you solace and displayed to you the beauty That surrounded me; Thus forth giving you a life renewed. My bounty has been plenty I provided food for your body when you needed nourishment With raging rivers in times of thirst my cup overflowed for you. We have climbed hills and mountains together And when exhausted we rolled back down them To the safe sweet deliverance of a soft, blissful earthy bed Giving our bodies and souls the much needed rest to move forward. You and I have seen many seasons come and go And the changing colors of our sheltering skies We have seen plenty, With each painting a vivid picture on our senses, Our thoughts and our world. We have witnessed together in awe The beauty of fall With the masters pallet of wondrous colors The fragment scent of the earth seeping into our beings, As we gazed upon the mist rising from its dew kissed surface. You and I have walked together on those days, We heard how each single footstep made a mark And a distinct sound as it touched The crisp, frosty, hard ground. We stopped, we viewed, and we listened We realized how something created By the cold, hard and dark night skies could create such an allure And one single step could unintentionally Change its course. At that moment we felt the warmth As its brightness over shone any darkness. We felt its heat as it gently touched our chilled bodies And with it came a sense of anticipation, A sense of something different, A want to stay but yet a rush to move forward. You and I peered in wonder as The grounds surface was transformed Too a pure white. The air held fresh, the children's laughter rang out As new promise of fun filled days, rosy cheeks And snow filled mittens And chimney smoke lingered in the air. We felt the cold March wind As its force engulfed everything in its path. Biting, tearing, and shaking everything to the bone. Its rage so profound. The sea it grew angry while it to vented crashing, roaring and twisting. Then the sea grew silent, the wind it calmed, And the ice it came. Some would say it was beautiful, While others might say a deathly quiet Our thoughts wondered to loved ones Who had gone on before us. You and I together know one thing We made it through, we had conquered another, Although shaken and bent, we did not break. Just like a mother giving birth Our surroundings started stirring with life anew. Our days felt endless as we were captured by its beauty, We filled our lungs with its precious scent. Throughout the days we wrapped our bodies in its warm sun drenched cloak, Together we walked the breathtaking shorelines and sandy beaches And finished it in color red as it settled down in the evening. You and I felt the joy, sorrow and despair When no more it could be held And overwhelmed as a release was needed And like a single tear it started Gaining momentum until we were drenched to the core Cleansing, bathing until there were no more. On those days you and I wept for the moments lost Never to return again, hearts that had been broken Love ones who had gone from our earthly lives But although unseen still walked beside us We cried for the sick and the suffering The poor, the lonely and the misunderstood, The sleepless nights when missing someone, Or a moment in time became a hunger, a hole too big to fill. Together, that day we shed tears of laughter and joy When happiness became so immense That our souls could not contain it anymore, Love overflowed that day Whether it was giving or receiving it rained until it poured The birth of a child, the joy of feeling safe, And the ability to be whimsical with full abandon With no worry or judgement, beauty surrounded us. With our tears we cried, with our tears we loved, With the tears we shed we took time, Time to stop, to ponder and to heal. Together we have had many souls who have shared our paths Each bringing something special, And in some small way contributed to whom we are today. May it be friends or family; Or family not by blood but by love, The Grandma's and Grandpa's; The Aunt or Uncle, the Mr. or Mrs.; or the elder who watched over us And deserved respect Or someone who was passing through, they each gave a little of themselves. Warm-hearted people, Hardworking men and women From past to present Singers of Song, storytellers, artist, and people of all trades Always there to lend a hand, To help a neighbor and to befriend a new Always giving of themselves, Stepping up to lend a hand in time of need, To cry with you in times of sorrow, To laugh with you in lighter times, To hold you up when you felt you couldn't stand. Joyful, caring, and fun loving traditions, These are my people, these are my family. My friend, you and I have traveled a long journey together Whether we remain together at present or miles and times as kept us apart Or maybe you were just passing through I have always been here; I know you as you know me I will always be here for you with open arms, I will welcome you in and give you comfort, I am strong and proud I wonder if you really know my name I am not a person; I am not a world, Or a word to be used in a slang I wonder when you speak of me Do you remember or forget the roads we traveled? Does my name roll off your tongue with respect and gratitude? When you speak of me, stand tall and with pride, Let my name fall off your lips like it was originally planned Let it come from a special place inside your heart. My name, you know it well, My name is "Newfoundland" Written by: Audrey Janes Keeping Originally from: Cape Ray, NL   Submitted By: Audrey Keeping