Author/Artist Ananda Leeke's Poetical and Photo Reflections on Her Inauguration Day Experience in DC

[Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke]

Leeke and Eng Family represent our ancestors and family members at the
Inauguration on the National Mall - My sister Syl Eng (very cool black and red hat)
and Lu Eng Leeke (standing in back), me, and my brother Mark (with his Dallas Cowboys hat)
Photo Credit: A Fellow American

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on jumbotran
Photo Credit: Mark Leeke

First Lady Michelle Obama and former
First Lady Laura Bush on the jumbotran
Photo Credit: Mark Leeke

Americans standing in community with hope on the National Mall
Photo Credit: Mark Leeke

Me and my brother Mark smiling and taking in the
historic day that Barack Hussein Obama became our President.
Photo Credit: Syl Eng, my sister

Finally at the Mall - Me and my sister Syl standing at the front of the crowd
near a jumbotran located about 50 feet from the Washington Monument ... we were so
grateful to stand in the front of the crowd and witness the event.
Photo Credit: My iPhone genius brother Mark Leeke

People walking to the Mall on 18th Street, NW in DC
Photo Credit: Mark Leeke

Walking to the Mall from 16th and U Street, NW on the morning of
Inauguration Day - Me and my sisters Lu and Syl... Lu is helping
me hook up my scarf on 14th Street.
Photo credit: Mark Leeke





Blessings All,

Below are poetical and photo reflections of my Inauguration Day experience with my family and fellow Americans. Stay tuned for more reflections this week. Enjoy!

Peace, Love, Creativity, Service, and a New America,

Ananda



A New Day by Ananda Leeke
Copyright 2009 by Madelyn C. Leeke.


Excerpt from That Which Awakens Me (Spring 2009 - iUniverse, Inc.)



On the morning of January 20th, my alarm clock rang at 6:00 a.m.

I turned it off and moved into a series of breathing, yoga, and Reiki healing touch exercises to create space in my body and to open my heart, stretch out my back and core, and lengthen my spine.

Shortly thereafter I walked into my kitchen and made some herbal tea.

As I waited for the water to warm up, I stared at my altar in my kitchen window and said a prayer of gratitude for being able to see a new beginning for America under the leadership of President Barack Hussein Obama.

After the prayer, my spirit, heart, mind, and body vibrated with the energy of love, peace, excitement, hope, and dreams for a better America ... the kind American poet Langston Hughes wrote about in his poem "Let America Be America Again":

"Let America be the dream the dreamers dream. Let it be that strong land of love."

My head bowed to my heart as I whispered Amen into the silence of a new day.