Robert Ludden Poet Free verse

And As For Me

Out of the sodden earth
a mystic truth arises,
out of the frozen tombs it flies
to salt the morning air,
for there is nothing fair in mindless axioms
or second-handed loyalties
compressed within cliche.

What parentland became a favored child
of God?  What ravaged forest
may invite the honor to become
its sanctuary?  
No, I shall not profane my heart 
with some vain gesture of obeisance
to a bloodied flag.  It beats
within the ground
where those true patriots
who only gave of life,  not took it,
lie with honor.

I pledge forever, my allegiance
to the spicy breath of day
from which we came--
the spirit breast of all that is,
and all that we may ever be--
the soil caressed beneath the rain,
the passion of the dead
beneath our feet
who feed the day with love,
that we may not forget
                    ~

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