All Too Many Hallowed Battle Grounds
The struggle is not between
East and west or
Worst and best, but lies
On a far more slippery slope
Connecting the cold dark, canopy of night
With the light of hope.
The battle rages
Throughout the ages
Like wild fire burning
Grass and trees below
Mother Earth’s sky blue breeze –
Flames flickering in the shadows
Surrounding you and me:
Democracy
Appears to be languishing
Between Her majestic beginnings
And dismal demise
All the while mask faced puppeteers
Pull the people’s strings
And blow oceans full of smoke
Before their naked eyes
Too numb and dumb to question who or
What or why.
As they go the way of Persia,
Egypt, Greece and Rome –
Lost in greed and glory
Forgetting God and home:
Foundation of freedom,
Liberty and dreams of higher realms
Where enlightened men once
Stood taller than eagles dare
And cast their hope filled spell
Very nearly everywhere
People cried, forsaken, died while
The hands of sweet Liberty lifted them up
And filled their cups
With more than blood, deceit and sorrow –
As some gave all they had to give
For a brave new world tomorrow.
What shall we say to those
Whose ghosts still walk
Those all too many hallowed battle grounds?
Will we curse their names to oblivion and shame
Until not a trace is found
Or will we instead, invoke the dead
And turn democracy around?
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