The Gift

“THE GIFT” Poem & Lyrics by: Hazel James -- Lyrics: We are in this together Separated but never apart Into the future we go With you in my heart You in the light Guiding my steps I’m holding your loved ones Together in the depths A gift from the light Though you couldn’t stay long Borrowed from the light To me you’ll always belong You’re still smiling at me With those beautiful eyes Reading your notes and emojis bring memories and smiles I can’t find the right words To express how I feel But the gifts you have given Are blessed and real -- This poem was created during Educational Alliance’s Poetry in Music workshop series with older New Yorkers in celebration of National Poetry Month. It was later transformed into a song using AI (Suno), with the original text set to music and the artist shaping the musical style to reflect the poem’s emotional tone. This process explored new creative tools and technologies. The piece was featured in the annual CelebratEArts festival, a month-long May exhibition honoring Older Americans Month. The festival celebrates creativity, expression, and connection through the arts. The 2026 theme, "The Power of Belonging," invited reflection on lived experience, the creative process, and the stories that connect us. Poetry is Music was facilitated by Xiomara A. Maldonado. The Artistic Director for CelebratEArts is Cory Michael Herman. Learn more about CelebratEArts at: 14streety.org/celebratearts #PoetryInMusic #MusicWithAI #CelebratEArts