Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 19

Old Hickory’s War

Didn’twe fight this war before?

Samefoe, same show as just a few short years ago.

Guesswe didn’t get the point across;

Theyfailed to learn their lesson.

Don’tscoff. Hands off!

Oryou’ll get caught in the undertow.

 

Timeto launch our secret weapon,

Thoughsecret may not be the word.

Ol’Hick’ry fit the Injun Wars,

Tookthe fearsome band to task.

Nocompromise, no questions asked,

Thisraging, sullen thunderbird.

 

So,off we march to New Orleans,

Thisragtag, squirrel-gun toting troop,

Toface the finest, fittest force

HisMajesty can muster,

Toput an end, once and for all,

Thisbrash attempt at foreign rule,

Tofirmly quash the British might

Andall its Parliamentary  bluster.

 

ButOld Hickory took it all in stride.

Heled, he fought, he won.

Andevery mother’s child reveres

Thenewborn nation’s favorite son.

 

Remember the Alamo

Bekind when you speak of the many brave souls

Whogave their all at the Alamo

Againstan overwhelming foe

Towin their freedom in Mexico.

 

Withodds stacked as many as twenty to one

Theoutcome foregone when the battle was done.

Andwhen the small fortress, at last overrun, with

Noprisoners taken, all is undone.

 

Thebeast, Santa Ana, no clemency lends

Ashis horrible hoard on the mission descends.

AndCrockett and Bowie and Travers and friends

Aredoomed from the start to their ill-fated end.

 

Heroesand villains and legends are made

Asleaders emerge to conduct the crusade.

Andkarma evokes a dear price to be paid

Whencannons erupt in intense fusillade.

 

Andwhile San Jacinto’s fate softens the blow

Inbringing an end to this imbroglio,

Whenheroes are needed to make our pride glow

Wewill always remember

TheAlamo.

 

In Old Mexico

Avision of Manifest Destiny

Growsfull to its measure of gravity

Toset a new nation ablaze down

Inold Mexico.

 

Andall of the bluster and fluster and flame

Eruptsin a cluster of claim/counterclaim

Torattle the sabers of battle

Inold Mexico.

 

Vastfever and fervor, in all of its glory,

Laysclaim the expanse of immense territory

Andnobody wants to let go down

Inold Mexico.

 

Heroesare born and armies demise

Withcannons erupting without compromise

Andno one is safe from undoing

Inold Mexico.

 

Butold Santa Ana is no match for Scott.

Hehas no defense from this bold juggernaut,

So,compromise finally prevails down

Inold Mexico.

 

Andwhen, in the end, the victory won,

ManifestDestiny simply rolls on,

Butnothing is ever the same down

Inold Mexico.

 

You Say You Want a Revolution

“When in the course ofhuman events.”

Thustolls the bell of fervent appeal,

Thisdeclaration,

This new beginning,

Thisfledgling flight from the eagle’s nest.

 

“We hold these truths tobe self-evident.”

Thatthese rights be not taken by trial or ordeal.

Thatliberty’s grasp is secure and unending

Andfreedom endures when held to the test.

 

Andif there be violence,

            Let there be violence.

Weshall not wither though cannons may reel.

Forindependence is ours for the winning

Andwe will not settle for second-best.

 

Forthey shall not govern without our consent,

Orthrottle our fervor or stifle our zeal

Lestwe send them whirling, reeling and spinning

Withour vigilant vigor that never will rest.

 

Nopatience for despots or tyrants or kings

WhenLiberty, sweet Liberty, opens her wings.

 

Sentinels

Weare the sentinels,

Makeno mistake.

Wecarry the future in our hands.

Wemust hold the line for

Thenext generation until

Theycan step up to take a stand.

 

Ourfathers before us

Andtheirs before them

Werethe guardians of their time.

Theyset the example,

Offeredtheir blood to

Establishthe proud paradigm.

 

Aslong as the essence

Offreedom remains

Inthe glint of the patriot’s eye,

Thesentinels stand

OverLiberty’s land

Holdingher banner high.

 

Enduring Peace

“Whatmight it take to achieve and preserve the enduring peace that the worlddeserves?”

“It would take much morepatience than we ever have known. We would need to grow wiser than we havegrown.”

 

“Whymust the world be forever at odds? Are our differences such that we cannotagree?”

 

“Our differences nevershould keep us apart. After all, we are all part of one family.”

 

“Arewe then doomed to be ever embroiled in the conflict of nations, bent todestroy?”

 

“The nation of man knowsno boundaries or borders, which all of God’s creatures are meant to enjoy.”

 

“So,I must ask again. Please, tell me, my friend. Will the struggles of war evercease?”

 

“When the greed of mankindcan leave loathing behind, we may then find enduring peace.”

 

A Constant Vigil

Thewatchman stands punctilious guard

Ashis charges rest in sweet repose.

Hespeaks no word, makes not a sound

Tostir the hush as darkness grows.

 

Hismission clear: to still all fear to

Grantthem winsome peaceful sleep.

Hiswarry eyes rest on the prize,

Relentless,as he tends his keep.

 

Woeto those who dare to breach

Theborders he is sworn to tend.

Nointerlopers penetrate

Wherehe has chosen to defend.

 

Andso must we all watchful be

Withsteadfast caution, circumspect

Ofdemons lurking in the dark,

Ourone and only task: protect.

 

Prudencebrings its own reward

Rejoicingwith exuberance, for

Cautionbegets peace of mind

Tothose who practice vigilance.

 

Virtues

Whatvirtues do you most admire?

Somany to espouse.

We’llmake a list if you insist

Sowe might freely browse.

Theysay patience is a virtue, but then

So’stenacity, and

Understandingrates quite high

Alongwith purity.

Ethicsmakes the list with

Incorruptibility,and

Worthis so important to

Preserveour dignity.

Honoris the cornerstone

Ofdeemed propriety,

Buthonesty is vital to

Secureintegrity.

Innocenceis virtue blessed

Bychaste morality, while

Goodnessshadows worthiness,

Thegrounds of decency.

 

Butthere is one that stands alone

Invirtues, great and small.

Kindness…simple kindness is

Thegreatest virtue of them all.

 

Homeland

Thisis my home, my native land,

Thecountry of my birth.

Whatbetter place to live and grow,

Tolift my inner worth?

 

Eventhough I oft make light

Orspeak of her in mirth,

Nobetter place can I speculate

Existson Mother Earth.

 

Somepeople like to travel

Hither,yonder, near and far.

Theynever seem quite satisfied

Justbeing where they are.

 

Exactlywhat they’re seeking

Isimpossible to know.

ButI’ve got all I need right here.

Ihave no need to go.

 

Andwhen, at last, it’s over and

Myfinal race is run,

Embracemy ashes over Her

Andlet us breathe as one.

 

Loyal to the Last

Hecouldn’t tell you why

Hevolunteered, only to say

Itwas something that he felt he had to do,

Tohelp… to serve.

Therewere other options that

Hemight have chosen. Better pay,

Betterhours, not as taxing on

Hisbody or his nerves.

 

Hedidn’t mean to make his mother

Cryso many tears,

Butshe couldn’t hide the pride

Shefelt inside her breaking heart.

Heonly meant to honor her and

Allthat she had taught

Ofintegrity and loyalty and

Allthat they impart.

 

Heknows that any moment can bring

Turmoilto his life

Whereendangerment can threaten hard and fast.

Buthe will never waiver

Inthe face of enmity.

Hevows to stay forever faithful…

Andloyal to the last.