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 ~