Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 21

Show Your Colors

Showyour colors loud and proud to

Watchthem soar with glory.

Viewwith eyes that chase the prize of

Passionsage-old story.

 

Letyour flag unfurl with flourish

Toa brash brass band to

Inspirethe spirit of the masses

Allthroughout the hinterland.

 

Withred on white on white on red

Thepurest rays of valor shine as

Starlightdusts a field of blue

Wherefaith and justice intertwine.

 

Thepeerless quest of freedom’s child

Glidestowering on eagles wings

Inspiringloyal partisans

Asthrongs of grateful choirs sing.

 

Andthough she be not faultless

Inher bearing or her scope,

Sheis still the perfect symbol of

Unendingboundless hope.

 

Freedom

Freedomis a hummingbird,

Fleeting,fast and fragile with

Brightwings that sing in rhythmic dreams

Theperfect jewel of joyful faith,

Seekingout the beautiful, the

Flowingflowers of the field,

Todrink the nectar of her bloom and

Allher gifts disseminate.

 

Freedomis a golden eagle

Sailingon a wafting zephyr,

Unencumberedby the straining

Balefulbonds of gravity.

Confidentthat none may rise to

Purloinhis emancipation.

Soaringover mountains high

Hesets his own alternatives.

 

Freedomis a mountaintop

Risingwhere no roads may tread,

Wearingrobes of purest white while

Bleedingrivers rife with hope.

Tendrilsflush with provender

Reachingmeadows near and far

Tonurture countless leas of flowers

Andfeed sweet freedoms hummingbird.

 

Open the Cages

Openthe cages and

Letloose the lions.
Set free the spirit that

Naturebequeaths to

Rulevast domain and

Roarinto the fury,

Toknow the sweet victory

Freedomaffirms.

 

Dangerousprospect in

Wakingthe beast whose

Heartknows no fear,

Whoseangst knows no peace.

Anunsated hunger that

Drivesever forward

Givingno quarter,

Acceptingno terms.

 

Openthe cages of life

Ifyou dare.

Challengeall foes,

Letthe full world beware.

 

To Weather the Storm

Caughtin the maelstrom of twisted confusion,

Ficklechameleon dancing to dirges of

Lonelylost causes, so long forgotten,

Misbegottenpaltry plans.

 

Tightlyattuned to the vast range of changes

Allmuddled and muddied by dark empty urges,

Hidingin corners, alone and ashamed,

Unableto think, unwilling to stand.

 

Toolong the victim.

Yes, far too long to

Writhein these shadows while Satan cajoles and

Controlsevery nuance, first to last,

Asquivering fools suffer under his hand.

 

Nowis the time and here is the station where

Heroesstand tall and courage unfolds

Likean unfurling flag defying the wind to

Inspirethe spirit, boasting command.

 

Shieldingthe precious, the cherished from harm,

Findingsafe harbor to weather the storm.

 

The Flag Retirement

CrispAutumn frost biting noses and toes as

Areverent assemblage awaits the occasion.

Noanger or protest, no mock revolution,

Justlove and respect for the symbol at hand.

 

Youngmen in uniform move briskly with purpose

Totender the flame’s resolute preparation.

Theygather their linens, all tattered and worn,

Theemblem of liberty throughout the land.

 

Instaid ceremony, a crisp call to order,

Acalm benediction of gentle persuasion.

“Theline forms right here

Tobring forth your banners”

Toplace on the pyre through the dirge of the band.

 

Istand at attention, hat in hand.

Myeyes are aghast with the realization

Theflame purifies, sanctifies, canonizes

Inways nary a soul will misunderstand.

 

She Stands in the Harbor

Agift.

Amagnanimous, thoughtful gift

Fromher sister nation across the sea.

Bornfrom the love of freedom

Andfaith in the kindness of humanity.

Shestands in the harbor overlooking

Theportal of hope. Her torch held high

Tohail the ships, to light the path in

Silence,never asking why.

 

Behindher the never-ending sprawl of

Asteaming behemoth rides the horizon.

Themountains and trenches of concrete and steel

Screama challenge of vast expanses beyond.

Butshe never waivers in her daunting task.

Hersilent resolve makes a solemn decree.

Shebeckons the weary to enter her shores and

Acceptthe bold challenge of sweet liberty.

 

Shecannot deny them,

Willnever forsake them,

Shallalways enfold them in welcoming arms.

Andall who believe in the bright torch of freedom

Foreverdefend her and keep her from harm.

 

Founding Fathers

Therewere no blueprints in those early days;

Justragged tomes and scrolls from eons past

Withcryptic jargon and philosophies

Ofoverstated misbegotten text.

 

Thepieces are all there in scattered scrawl

Laidout before the gathering to weigh.

Thegallant and outspoken breathing fire

Asthey beat their chests and cry for liberty.

 

Consensusfails to fill the room with glee

Andharmony is but a poltergeist

Whomanifests in vague chimeric veils

Todance and shift and gel to solid type.

 

Andin the end their grand epiphany 

Befitsthe will of all who would be free.

 

Valhalla Awaits

TheAncients conceived and believed in the dream of

Agolden land where the vanquished abide,

Thosehero-inhabited hallowed halls,

           The splendor of Valhalla.

Andthe warrior weathers the

Flamesof distress without fear or regret

Forhe knows in the end

Hisreward will surpass any

Woundshe may bear

Ashonor becomes his most trusted friend.

 

Withvalor and verve, he soars his spirit

Tounnerving heights on rarified air.

Notask too consuming,

Noquest out of question,

Hefights the brave fight to

Defendwhat is fair.

 

Hemust not fail.

Hewill not fail.

Thisvaliant sentinel of war.

Andwhen his sword and shield shall rest

Hestrolls Valhalla forevermore.

 

Free to Choose

Therewas a time - eons ago - when

Choiceswere much simpler.

Aleft, a right,

Ayes or no,

Onor off, up or down,

Asmile, a frown, a blank response,

Apill to ease a restless night.

 

Wewere young with foolish hearts,

Nothought of how the world ensues.

Littleto win,

           Less to lose,

Butwe were free,

           Free to choose.

 

Nowthe weight of worlds roll by and

Herestand I dazed and confused.

Thewhen and what,

Thewhere and why,

Mywhole life passing in review.

 

Butduty calls and I must go.

Nopetty purpose can excuse.

Iwill fight and

Iwill serve

Soothers may be free to choose.

 

Visions of Liberty

DareI wake tempestuous dreams of

Stormyskies and trembling walls to

Stumblethrough the midnight mire,

Thewanton waste named Yesterday.

 

Whocan chase this clamoring cacophony of

Warningbells?

Whowill quell this quivering, this shivering

Ofservitude?

 

Once,in youth, a vision stirred

Beneaththe willows sheltering arms

Whereevery heart is filled with hope,

Aprophesy of pristine realms.

 

Butfate is cruel and Caesar’s rule

Requiresa tribute to be paid,

Harddecisions to be made before

Theogre overwhelms.

 

Themuddled masses must arise

Infervor and intensity

Tokeep the dream, the quest alive.

Thevision of sweet liberty.