This my 400th post at WordPress! To celebrate, I purchased the official site name, “sharplittlepencil.com” – but don’t worry; your old links will still forward to this address. Here is a song and with it, a true story that resulted from my posting the link on YouTube. My friends and former partners in music ministry, Kathy Smith and Corrine Crook of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Endwell, NY, joined me at Tranquil Bar and Bistro in an impromptu rendition of “Rivers of Babylon,” as captured by my friend George Bezushko’s phone cam. Peace, Amy
Sister Elizabeth and Babylon
African-American, Benedictine cloistered nun
writes letter to
Anglo-American jazz singer
asking for transcription of a song
she found on the Web.
Most of the sisters, Anglo as well,
sing a capella;
African influences will flavor the praise.
And so singer finds a hand-written copy
Sends it with note: “…and I’m married to a pastor!”
God’s work is never done
so effectively
as when women combine their own desires
with others’ can-do attitudes to create
a new kind of unity, crossing divides.
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For dverse poets Open Mic Night and Poets United
Sharp Little Pencil 
AudreyHowitt (@AudreyHowitt)
I just want to say congratulations! That is quite an accomplishment!
Daydreamertoo
Great song, lovely harmony~!
Sharp Little Pencil
Audrey and DD2, I thank you so much for acknowledging my little milestone. The blog name was a self-congratulatory present… wink! A
Kim Nelson
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You, Amy!
The poem is ideal. The video a wonder. You are a woman of many talents.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Kim. My husband told me he would add to my list of talents, but it would be in poor taste, ha ha ha. Peace, Amy
Heaven
Congrats on your 400th post. Great things can happen when we put our talents together ~ Enjoyed the video as well ~
http://a-sweetlust.blogspot.com/2012/02/muse.html
hedgewitch
Loved the singing–you ladies are good! Congrats on the 400th post.
claudia
woohooo…great to hear you singing…made my evening!!! and congrats on 400 posts..that’s awesome
Sharp Little Pencil
Heaven and Hedge, thanks so much for your kind words. I always say Patty Andrews wouldn’t have gone far without Maxine and LaVerne, but this reference is less understood as time goes by. I will safely say, “Strength in numbers” and remind us all that the number 3 has all sorts of spiritual significance! Also, Heaven, thanks for the specific link. Very helpful. Y’all feel free to leave links, OK? I’m not the only one who will click them! Amy
Sharp Little Pencil
Oops, messed up my reply. Claudia, you shout-out means a lot. I used to do a lot more music and am working with our church’s praise and worship ministry now, adding my voice, sometimes keyboard, and sometimes original songs to the mix… Peace, Amy
kshawnedgar
Just an FYI post? Or hybrid poetry? Congrats!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for stopping! This post is, as with so much of my work, whatever you choose it to be. Up for grabs. Peace, Amy
brian miller
smiles…there is something that happens when we come together in a common purpose you know…smiles…and congrats on 400 that is awesome…and on the domain name…
Sharp Little Pencil
Brian, you are one with whom I feel a certain kinship, and I’m proud of it. Damned proud. Your acknowledgment of the power of women (not only here; at other times on my blog, as well) makes you a rarity, much like my husband, Lex. And your talent, oy! I’m so pleased you visit my blog! Peace, Amy
wolfsrosebud
… and you crossed well
booguloo
Wow.
Sharp Little Pencil
Rosebud and Michael, thanks so much. And Rosebud, yes, the crossing was impromptu – having to hop some of the slicker stones in the river, we succeeded in crossing together because we held hands! A
Buddah Moskowitz
“God’s work is never done
so effectively
as when women combine their own desires
with others’ can-do attitudes to create
a new kind of unity, crossing divides.”
I like the sentiment and the video too.
Congrats! I’d buy ihatepoetry.com, but someone else bought it before me! 😦
Sharp Little Pencil
My Bruddah,
Thanks for being here on my momentous day! As for the domain name, that stinks. You hate “P – oetry” more than anyone else I know, and it’s not fair. It’s like having some sclump in the Bronx owning betoandthefairlanes.com or something.
Love you, Ameleh
Debbie
Love it!
Victoria C. Slotto
Love it, Amy. We are all one.
oncealibrarian
Many congratulations on your 400th! Used to be a time we counted our age by years, now it’s by posts. 400 is quite an achievement.
MiskMask
How wonderful! How happy you’ve made me this morning! xx
Sharp Little Pencil
Deb, Victoria, Librarian, and Misk, thanks so much for your congrats. I agree that the steppingstones of life are changing… to view it in posts! Great thought!
Peace, Amy
thehutts
Amen. Yes, women can do. Unity of purpose.
Sharp Little Pencil
Wish there were more regular women (and regular men, frankly) in Congress; I believe we would have a more just society. Women do not hold the copyright on unity, but I think it’s out there pending somewhere…! Thanks, and peace, Amy
Roger Green
Congrats on your own URL! I guess that means you now have to write stuff regularly here. And I love that song.
Sharp Little Pencil
Aw, shucks, Roger, you know me. Any resource in a storm!@ Can you believe how on top of it those girls were after a 30-second rehearsal at their table?! Amy
Steve King
Nice twist on expectations here, Amy. Succinct and compact. I enjoyed it.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Steve. Think I’ll hop over and see what’s cooking with you! Amy
Andrew Kreider
Beautiful, Amy! Music crosses so many boundaries – especially in song. What a treat to hear you sing as I read your words. Congratulations on the 400th post – here’s to the next 1,000…
Sharp Little Pencil
Andrew, I hope I didn’t lead anyone to believe I WROTE the song; it’s an old Melodians hit out of Jamaica, adapted from Psalm 137. I’m so glad you enjoyed the music – you have to admit, offering an impromptu version of a gospel tune in the middle of a “little black dress” jazz gig is unusual… thanks, and peace, Amy
contemplativemoorings
Congrats on No. 400 🙂
I am always amazed at how prolific people can be…
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m never amazed at my pencil, which does all the work for me! Ha! Thanks, hon, Amy
zongrik
sounds like quite a jam session
what’s a zongrik
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Z. I loved your explanation of what a Zongrik is, but I’ll keep calling you Z because I don’t have any other friends named Z, and it’s cool. I used to know an A – A Martinez, but that was during Amy: The Lost Years, back in SoCal, ha ha. Thanks, and more of the jam to come in later posts! Amy
pmwanken
Such a beautiful song…and rendition…and story to follow. Beautiful beyond words…right into the heavenly realms.
Congrats, by the way, on the milestone! 🙂 Not only the 400 posts, but the 25,000+ “reads” of those 400 posts!
Here was my latest at Poetic Bloomings…not the 400th for them, by the 44th week in a row! 🙂 http://whenwordsescape.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/on-the-road-with-the-shepherd/
kaykuala
That’s great Amy! 400th chalked up, certainly an accomplishment! Congrats! The video is great! Your rendition, your voice, just great, Ma’am!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
God love you, Hank, I really appreciate this! Peace, Amy
hypercryptical
Ah, if only all divides could be crossed…
Loved the singing and congrats on your 400th post Amy!
Peace.
Anna :o]
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, “Hyper”! Glad you were able to get the link working to hear some 3-part harmony. We used to call ourselves “Andrews Sisters for God,” ha ha, but those two were such fun to work with, along with the rest of the group… Amy