Poets Forum
FOURTH OF JULY
We gathered on that day for our parade Aligned in front of stores four deep on Main
Sidewalks. Kids held up signs that they had made
Of red and white and blue and some were plain,
But they were ways to show what freedom meant
To them. We talked until the flag came by And down the block a movement with a hint
About this day revealed itself. My eye
Was drawn to flags held by a chair-bound man
Who lost his legs in war. He rose, one knee
Wedged him up high enough while tears that ran
Down both his cheeks showed great humility.
But still, he smiled as though the world were good:
And through my tears, I smiled, I understood.
— Dennis Patton Alexander
AMERICA SINGS
They left their footprints in the sand
That time could not erase,
And in their hearts where freedom dwelt They found their truth and grace.
For they had learned from God’s own Word
That truth will set you free,
And they determined to create
A land of liberty.
Then from their hearts and through their minds
The principles were laid,
And from the seeds of that idea A call to freedom made America, America
Our Freedom Bells still ring America, America
Put songs in hearts to sing.
— Don Crowson Deceased
AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY
With cracker booms and sparklers lighting sky
We celebrate our Freedom in July. As British fired, America was born
And struggled to survive the wounds of war.
In worn-out shoes, their battle banners torn,
Our Fathers fought for land worth fighting for.
We celebrate our Freedom in July
With cracker booms and sparklers lighting sky.
— Kitty Yeager Conroe, Texas
INDEPENDENCE DAY LULLABY
On every Independence Day Night fireworks light the sky And fading flashes seem to say, Goodnight, Fourth of July.
— Howard Nobles Deceased
TAPS AND TEARS
With each heartbeat the bugle call echoes Like distant thunder in an autumn storm, I wondered how to lift this heavy load
From one who prayed to keep her son from harm.
No one in Baghdad cared about her grief Except his buddies who had seen him die. They know a soldier’s life can be too brief. Boys cried men’s tears and told their friend goodbye.
A broken-hearted mother heard the notes Of Taps and lifted up her tear-stained face Remembering the “be home soon” he wrote,
She bowed her head to plead for heaven’s grace.
She hugged the folded flag a soldier gave
While Taps and tears fell on a hero’s grave.
— Faye Boyette Wise Benton
FREEDOM
So — you want to be free?
Hold carefully then, your freedom rights.
Hold, just as carefully the freedom rights of others — complying with laws of our land, completing each task dependably and paying your debts. Herein lies freedom.
— Verna Lee Hinegardner Former Poet Laureate
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To submit poems for publication, please send poems of 16 or fewer lines to Dennis Patton, 2512 Springhill Circle, Alexander, AR 72002, or patton_dr@hotmail.com.