Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 20
March 14, 2025
The Pledge
Toquote the pledge, hand over heart;
Somebacklash from the “me” generation
Hesitantto be a part of
Somethinglarger than themselves.
Theydodge all symbols of commitment,
Shunninglyrics of allegiance
Witha scowl of vague resentment.
Iwas taught to show respect
Andcarry hubris in my stance
Whensymbols of my cherished land
Remindof my inheritance.
Thebrave, the fearless patriots
Whogladly gave their all.
Whoheld her battle colors high
Andnever let them fall.
Redfor those who shed their blood
Soothers might live free.
White,for virtues unreproached
Andcherished purity.
Blueproclaims our loyalty,
Nothought of sacrilege.
Yes,I will stand and raise my hand
Withpride to quote the pledge.
March 13, 2025
A Ballad of Nations
Toenjoy the triumph of liberty
Wecelebrate a history
Ofconstant faith and loyalty.
BeneathHer broad majestic skies
Aroyal feast enchants our eyes
Andevery day brings new surprises
Filledwith fruitful energy.
Weare one people, proud and strong
Withbalance between right and wrong
Whobravely sing our victory song
Forus and for our progeny.
Whenthe storm clouds overcome
Andfate belays our dream,
We’lllift the torch of liberty
Rejoicingin Her golden beam.
Kingdomswill fade and empires go
Inmelancholic fits of woe,
Butthis republic continues to grow
Toseek its greatest destiny.
Andwhen it all is said and done
Wewill look back on all we’ve won.
March 12, 2025
Fireworks Over the Harbor
Flash– Sparkle – Ooh and Wow!
Glisteningoff the black harbor waters
Likeflames on a mirror to hypnotize.
Dazzlingthe gathering throng
Withmagical brilliance of wonderment
Infervent celebration of
Ourcherished nation’s dazzling rise.
Glintand glitter,
Flurryand flicker,
Therockets shrill shriek of dismay,
Theburst and the blaze of
Thefierce cannonade.
Howcan anyone dare walk away?
Weare rows of corn
Gazinginto the skies
Tothe rich psychedelic
Feastfor the eyes.
Andfantasy flourishes to extreme,
Upliftingthe soul…
Inspiringthe dream.
March 11, 2025
Courage
Blindlyfollowing its mother
Withoutquestion, without knowing
Wherethe final outcome leads.
Courageis a strangling oak
Pushingup through stony grounds,
Needingonly sun and rain
Towin its struggle to survive.
Courageis the patriot
Whohides his feelings deep inside
Butstands with pride with hat in hand
Eachtime the colors pass him by.
Nothreat too trivial to challenge,
Evendeath cannot deter
Thisloyal servant from his duty,
Valliantto the bitter end.
Whenthe world grows dark we seek
Thesebold, intrepid sentinels
Tobear the cause of liberty,
Forfreedom grows where courage dwells.
March 10, 2025
Sing it Again
Undercrystalline cloudless skies,
Wherethe air breathes clean
Overmountain and stream
Andthe golden eagle flies.
Singme a song of the land that I love
Ina gentle lullaby,
WhereI can live free
Insublime liberty
Asthe years roll quietly by.
Singme a song of a patriot’s dream
Andhis fearless battle cry,
Withhis ungrudging guile,
Hiswill and his wile
Andthe fire in his eye.
Singme a song about freedom’s hope
Withthe soothing strains of violin.
Singsoftly and sweet
Andwhen it’s complete,
Ifyou don’t mind, please,
Singit again.
March 9, 2025
Liberty’s Lighthouse
Highabove the pounding surf
Whereoceans feud with continents
Inclamorous retort,
Shelifts her lamp to launch a light of
Welcomingand warning,
Ablaze of brilliant radiance to
Guideher wayward waifs to port.
Wheredo you live, sweet Liberty?
Whatstories will you tell?
Whysuch a heavy price to pay to
Rideyour carousel?
Whymust you be so hard to win and
Harderyet to keep?
Somany brave souls fight and die,
Somany mothers weep.
Alas,we mortals need exist
Inall our frailty,
Withbut one passion, one desire to
Liveperfectly free.
Weguard the night
Preparedto fight forever and a day,
AndLiberty’s steadfast lighthouse
Isthere to light the way.
March 8, 2025
If Only…
WhatI want it to be,
Iwould love to see
AllGod’s creatures run free.
Allthe fish in the seas
Everybird in the trees
Allin sweet harmony
Likea Brahms symphony.
Andthe people agree
Witha joyous esprit
Tothe posh potpourri,
Sucha grand jamboree.
Everyyou, every me,
Everyhe, every she
Findsa new fantasy
Forall eternity,
Nomore dark drudgery,
Nomore debauchery.
Kindnessis the decree
Tothe highest degree.
Everyheart filled with glee,
Everylife fancy-free,
Loveis our recipe.
Ifonly…
Ifthe world could be…
March 7, 2025
The Dissident
Whothese lame complainers are.
Whydon’t they simply get on board and
Marchlockstep with the crowd?
Whodo they really think they’re fooling
Withtheir roars and rallies and cries?
Whydo they seem so angry and
Whyare they so damned loud?
Theyare the voice of conscience.
Theyare our soul’s sounding board.
They’renearby to give us balance
Whenwe’re falling on our sword.
Ayoung and struggling nation
Wasquick to recognize
Thatthe scorching voice of dissidence
Wasthe footpath to their prize.
Thevoices of Adams and Franklin and Paine
Likea bell in sweet liberty’s day,
Speakingof sovereignty, aching for freedom,
Seeking,demanding! and willing to pay.
Ifnot for these dissidents making their waves
Ournation would never be free.
Andso, it’s essential to protect our right
Tospeak volumes when we disagree.
March 6, 2025
Reach for the Moon (20 July, 1969)
Forthe planets beyond?
Dowe dare break the bonds of
Thisblue marble sphere?
Orought we intern
Inthis staid domicile
Tileternity catches us
Tremblingin fear?
Thethirst for adventure,
Tosearch the unknown,
Toreach the unreachable
Nextmilestone.
Isthe yardstick a test of our ability
Tostretch beyond reason irrationally?
Welook to the heavens.
Welong for the stars.
Wewonder and dream about
Lifeup on Mars.
Whatonce an impossible
Thoughtto commune
Becomescommonplace
Aswe reach for the moon.
March 5, 2025
We’re Not Perfect
Withmulticolored feathers
Thatflitter as they flutter
Througha phosphorescent night.
Noqualms, no trepidation,
Onlypeaceful coexistence,
Solovely to envision,
Sofleeting in the light.
Alas,we are not perfect.
Wecan never know this Shangri-La,
Thisparadise of worldly wealth
Wherepure nirvana touches all.
Thebest that we can hope for is
Aland of opportunity where
Eachon each might have a voice
Andall may share the waterfall
Wherenone need fear the tyrant’s rage
Andno voice need be still,
Wherekindness, hope and charity
Arewealth to compensate the bill.
