let freedom ring
bombs bursting, glittering the night
wave your red, white & blue high;
fly over fields of Monsanto filled plains
no green tractor able to sow hand collected seeds,
indeed; don’t fence us in to your monopoly,
these lots of a thousand heads gone woolly,
cash cows grazing government browning lands;
resources abound, outsource that service,
customer ____ only needs a voice-over answer
from a generic cubical, one naked light bulb for all,
but don’t forget to smile! a mile, we drove for our
groceries because no one has encouraged walking
as a way of greening, let engineers fix our omissions;
admission (perhaps we are just lazy, I heart my car);
oh save me! wondering where is my next meal
if not from mickey Ds, three dollars will feed me
and my baby: a burger, a fry and soda to boot,
a banquet upon my card table; I’m all laid out, broke
thank god for the salvation army which outfits this
title 19 family;
are we, going to send him then? His smile, broken,
but his grades (college bound) all token, unless we can
save some money. oh honey! the piggy is empty
as is the tank. They say they will fix ‘em (his teeth)
if he survives in-coming rounds; boots down,
these boys (don’t forget girls) defending our Bill
of Rights so they can someday attend university;
tonight I will bare my arms wide open
to our sky and praise the beauty of what
money can buy. They fight for freedom so
we are able to continue to sanction; praying
no day will we pay ten bucks a gallon, in that
Hummer that just killed another innocent driver
in downtown Cleveland because he didn’t see ‘em.
I praise the valour, our soldiers;
I honour their conviction, our women & men;
I thank them for their service, again & again;
now, if only the men & women on the hill
would understand that there is a lot more
to fueling their words, to fight for the right
to be in a country, and repeat those famous words,
I have a dream ~
1959duke
/ 2011/07/04Its interesting that you mentioned Monsanto. Their Headquarters are located in my hometown. Bill Clinton said something that I found interesting with the basia thought being that for a generation that fought against the Vietnam War and for Civil Rights it has become the most materlistic in human history. Sad but true.
Carl D'Agostino
/ 2011/07/04I don’t think those ” men & women on the hill” will ever get it. They say, by the way, each day. “He needs a job.” But don’t they see there are no groceries TODAY and he and family evicted tomorrow? And health care means “don’t get sick”.
Cindy
/ 2011/07/04This is wretched, absolutely wretched.
(I take it a ‘title 19 family’ is a household that relies on charity?)
brian
/ 2011/07/05a fine bit of political and social poetry…the plight of the have nots…an even widening divide between them and the haves…what shall come, class warfare, will it get that far?
Promising Poets' Poetry Cafe
/ 2011/07/05powerful.
invite you to share with us today.
Claudia
/ 2011/07/05you touched some points here in a critical way and yet – i can feel the love for your land – love how you end this..with these famous words..and we still have dreams…we still have..and this is the way it should be
bluebee
/ 2011/07/05Some time ago, I did an assignment which required me to research Monsanto, and then last night I watched ‘Food Inc’ and I continue to be astounded that they continue to be allowed to do what they do in a free country – it’s an utter abomination (but, I guess, the clue is there in that passive of “allowed” – few of us will stand up). Your insightful commentary resonates.
Jingle Poetry
/ 2011/07/11pray for freedom, how divine.
bless you.
Greetings, how are you?
Inviting you to join our poetry potluck today,
Week 43 is free verse week, submit 1 to 3 random poems, enjoy the fun!
Hope to see you soon.
Happy Tuesday.
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Xoxox
libraryscene
/ 2011/07/13Jingle, thank you much for the offer. I refrain due to lack of time to read other’s posts. I hope you understand ~ angela