Poets Forum
by Dennis Patton
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 chairbound 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
EVIL LURKS AT FREEDOM’S DOOR
Remembering God’s way to set men free,
We celebrate our Day of Liberty.
Still there are some who have an evil mind
And they alone believe that they are wise;
But truly prudent men will never find If real manure or they attract more flies.
We celebrate our Day of Liberty Remembering God’s way to set men free. — 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 Arkadelphia
CELEBRATE THE FOURTH
To celebrate the Fourth of each July We proudly hoist Old Glory way up high.
Our eyes are drenched with tears as we recall
The blood Forefathers shed for liberty.
We keep defenses up lest fate befall And we discover we’re no longer free. We proudly hoist Old Glory way up high
To celebrate the Fourth of each July.
— Genevieve Didier-DeWitt Baton Rouge, LA
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 Deceased
JULY
Once more the calendar reveals July The kids delight that summer’s really nigh
Their school and homework seem a passing dream with days of swimming, playing ball in sight
As friends and neighbors make a rag tag team
They make the most of hours till falls the night
The kids delight that summer’s really nigh
Once more the calendar reveals July.
—Sara C. Jacobs Baton Rouge, LA
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.
NEWS
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2022-07-03T07:00:00.0000000Z
2022-07-03T07:00:00.0000000Z
https://bentoncourier.pressreader.com/article/281547999589402
Alberta Newspaper Group