Best Across The Nation Poems
When I hear the sound of "Taps" on Memorial Day,
Or hear that plaintive tune when a veteran is laid away,
I try to remain stoical but am easily moved to tears,
As I recall the sacrifices of heroes throughout the years.
Valiant men suffered hardships at their posts in Valley Forge,
To win our nation's independence from resolute King George.
Stalwart men died in the War of 1812 and at the historic Alamo,
To sustain our precious freedoms - so much to them we owe!
The Civil War upheld the Union, tho' much needless blood was shed.
'Twas during that awful conflict that "Taps" was born, 'tis said.
Since its genesis, its haunting tune is yet heard o'er the graves,
Of heroes who sacrificed their all to ensure our flag yet waves!
They served with honor to defend the liberties we hold dear,
And to preserve dignity for others around this troubled sphere,
Giving all on the Altar of Honor for mankind's follies to atone.
Alas, in return, all they merited was a simple marble stone.
Sadly, most every day we hear that melancholy strain,
Echoing across the nation from hills and verdant plain.
As a grateful nation gathers to bid each a sad goodbye,
Parents, spouses and children are left to wonder - WHY!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(© All Rights Reserved)
The word of discovery of gold in '49 in Californy raced across the nation!
Why, it was said you could fill a bushel basket full with little botheration!
This appealed to a young feller in Boston town named Clancy Wiggins,
Who forthwith trailed the sun west to help himself to his share of diggin's!
In them days to make the trek you had a choice of travelin' by land or sea.
He chose the sea carin' not a whit for wagon trains or tanglin' with Cherokee!
Clancy left his mom and dad, Spike his dog and Sarah Jane his fiancee,
Fixin' to strike it rich, return safe and sound to marry-up with her one day!
In March of '49 he boarded the ship Barnacle and sailed from the Boston quay.
'Twas cold and icy, the sea was rough, he was sea-sick, not a cheerful day.
They tacked to and fro and three months later transited perilous Cape Horn!
Four months later they reached San Francisco, both man and ship badly worn!
Clancy bounded off the ship anxious to head fer them thar hills and streams.
He bought the necessaries needed to accomplish his far-fetched dreams.
Includin' shovels, boots, jeans and grub as well as a sassy mule named Fred,
Plus pots and pans and a tent to 'batch' in to lower costs and overhead.
Fer nigh on a year he panned, dug and sluiced searchin' fer that pot of gold,
Sufferin' claim jumpers, cheatin' partners, floods, rain, snow and cold!
Now and then he'd pan some dust or a nugget, but didn't amount to much;
What he found he quickly blew on gamblin' whiskey, wimmin and such!
His venture didn't 'pan out' like them lying Californy hucksters said it might.
He sold Fred and his belongin's since his future as a miner didn't look bright.
Clancy left Boston with 21 bucks and left Californy with 18 bucks in his jeans.
It might be said that he didn't arrive back in Boston as a man of means!
Sam dated Sandy, things were fine and dandy
Born into middle class means, they were killing that high school scene
One afternoon in Sandy’s bedroom their play went all the way
And the Angels wept that day
Sandy felt that they would marry, though Sam soon had his eye on Sally
Now Sam chased Sally, soon after that it was Allie
Sandy, Sally, and Allie; to Sam they were no more than tallies
And the Angels wept at this reality
Now across the nation, we can find these relations
Occurring in high schools from Bangor to Bakersfield
Thus, today another voiceless soul was ripped away as a right
And the Angels will weep again tonight
Just like Dr. KIng I too have a dream
I have a dream that one day children of all ages and colors will receive a better
education
Where they will one day have a better life after graduation
These students will hold their heads up high whether they become the next
lawyer or doctor in the world
By stepping up to say I am now a man or woman, no longer a boy or girl
I have a dream that every child will go to school and put forth effort in all their work
So that they will not need or want for anything, a life full of happiness rather than
hurt
These students will sit in that chair or that desk and take in everything that's
being said
Taking in knowledge rather than putting foolishness in their heads
In this dream children will be able to thank teachers for everything they know
College is where we should further our education, so its college we shall go
I have a dream that students will not go home to parents and lie about what
they've earned
But go home to parents and show them exactly what it is they've learned
Children of all ages will realize that its best to attend school
Instead of sitting at home doing nothing with time,smoking drugs which is not
very cool
I have a dream that we all will come together and help each other succeed
A place where we will be able to thank us and not you and me
I have a dream that no child will be left behind in grades
They will be able to thank teachers for the education they gave
A dream where students will work extra hard
Knowing that later on in life we all will play a major part
This dream will live across the nation as if its the last words to be heard
Because an education is not something that should be kicked to the curve
Students will not play when their teacher is trying to teach
Because not much can be understood this way even if you are sitting in your seat
In this dream everyone will be all that they can be
Whether it comes from nursing in the hospital or on the streets
If my words can matter like Dr. Martin Luther KIng
Then guess what, I TOO HAVE A DREAM
The hour of darkness covers many men.
They enter foreign soil illegally.
En mass invasion time and time again.
The problem is arithmetically
impossible to stop. Deportation
is just an empty word that represents
a losing battle across the nation.
Until we take a tougher stance, miscreants
below the border will invade the north
in droves. We must begin enforcing laws
to curb this exodus and thus set forth
our firm intentions: Stay away because
if caught your stay is brief my deportee
Su clase no se desea aquí!
A New Football Season
Fall football season has finally come upon us,
It’s time for wives across the nation to raise a fuss.
This usually happens once each year,
From the beginning of the season, ‘til the last cheer.
No one knows what makes them hate this game,
Maybe it’s the gender that we should blame.
An easy chair, a coke and turn on the set,
An exciting football game is as good as it can get.
All the wives are on a shopping spree,
When they come home there will be an afternoon tea.
We want to patronize them any way we can,
This way they have fallen into our game plan.
We try very hard to keep them satisfied,
But they’re out to spoil our game, they won’t be denied.
No more game today, I sit out in the yard with my T.V.,
I look over and see my clothes are right beside me.
She tossed me out just as easy as pie,
I never knew that she could be so spry.
Now the season is over, it’s come to an end,
She allowed me to come home so I could begin to mend.
©2010 Lynn B. Glover
A young North Carolina preacher named Billy Graham
Was filled with God's Words, and knew how to say 'em
All across the nation, many people came to salvation
Now heaven will be home to more than a few; how about you
"National Anthem USA"
Hands to hearts with baseball capped compassion
We swear on a timeless treasure of freedom
Asking new artists every time to hit the tender spot of America
They beg for the chance to sing the Francis Scott Key to our hearts
Rebellious revolutionary days forced us to face
The king of England, most taxing on our troubles
A tumor so ugly and far away from the truth
He was growing ever more malignant
With every year of passing this country grew more proud
Endearing us to older countries we certainly had to prove ourselves
Throughout tumultuous efforts
We fought on this land and others
From the souls who struggled with hand packed gunpowder and bullets of balls
To the men who survived amputation and the casualties of consequence
M.I.A'.s and P.O.W.'s in Vietnam with green turtle shells on head, they fought like dogs
Tags to remind us are plenty because freedom is not free
Semper Fi sweet marines
And for new lands so vast, they were to become the new states
Of mind for auspicious entrepreneurs who knew the greatness
We were blessed with the new land to our west
Exploring revelry which led us to find the other shining sea
Gold made us rush while liberty allowed us to stay
Settlers moving west across the nation brought much trepidation
But nowadays we have a future to forage for the best it has to offer
As we dine on democracy from the plate of our predecessors
Begun with the melody that makes people goose bump
The Star Spangled Banner
1960
2014
Makes no difference to me
History repeating
Whether you
Fire hose me
Rape me
Beat me
Lynch me
Gun me down
Can't control the center of the problem
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown
Racial inequality
Your fears
Is backed up by bullets
Our tears is met
With lethal choke holds
With systems in place to let go
Of those who
Did the crime
But the loopholes in the bureaucracy said
This is a diplomatic
Time and place
Things suppose to be safer for me
But
I still can't wear common things
Like a grey hoodie
Without
Being stopped & frisked
And told to go home
Why
When either in a group of ten
Or by myself
Am I really safe
Should I wear a ID bracelet
With facts that state
Name
Age
Race?
Same thing your gonna put on my toe tag
If my mother doesn't identify me
You can ID any common thief
Except the ones that brings me closer to equal
How much proof do you need
Guilty ‘til proven innocent is required
Since
Videotapes
Eyewitnesses
Pictures
Aren't enough
DNA
Autopsy reports
Still can't prove
I'm trained to shoot
Ask questions later
#ShouldTheyGunMeDownNow
Or Have I said enough
Uncomfortable situations
From across the nation
They tryna contain the situation
Before an upheaval like watts occur
And spreads like swine flu
There trying so desperately
To do what they always do
Simmer
Simmer
Down now
Hush
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown
Thank you for your grace, your mercy and everlasting love Father. Thank
you for giving me the strength to endure another day. Forgive me
for my sins I've committed. I come to the
realization that day-to-day my eyes will
face temptations. I'm lured by the
beauties of envy, greed, anger,
jealousy, lust and fornication.
Saved I am, though not
perfect; but with your
tools, I pray to
overcome my
sinful fixations.
Right over wrong
indeed I stand;
it's majority of the
wrong that over
powers the right in
most situations.
Understandably,
it's all apart of the
flesh's gravitation for
a craving appetite for
sinful sensations. Spiritually,
I refuse to become stagnant; mimicking
the gestures of still waters while observing
nature's sin waltz about society in a circular
motion across the nation. Therefore, I will testify
and witness to the lost souls being an inspiration. And
taking heed to the one and only literature as it's a form of migration. One
place to another place, from this place to a better place; my final destination...!
06-27-2013
I was a little girl when I heard he was shot and killed.
The TV had it on every channel you could not miss it.
So many comments, conversations of fear, confusion,
anger and disbelief.
I remember becoming afraid like when Kennedy died.
Sitting there a tear streamed down my face for this man
I did not even know.
I knew injustice had just happened.
His words, his voice spoke for peace, love, compassion and
hope, for change that would happen someday.
Yell, I remember at 9 years old listening, watching the marches.
People, were being treated as if they were an infectious disease.
I asked questions, no one ever answered and they told me to be quiet.
My heart was heavy I tried to make sense of it in my child mind.
I was sad, mad and confused.
I remember him.
His face was kind, his voice gentle and I listened when he said
‘He had gone to the mountain’ my heart raced.
My eyes filled with tears I prayed and asked God to watch over
his family and everyone.
His voice was like music in the air, his words showed passion.
Hatred came with men in white sheets, they called themselves the
KKK I call them cowards.
They would, do such cruel and evil things, they killed innocence.
I spit on them, these small men who hide under bed sheets.
I was a kid but I knew change had come, as we had never seen
before and it made people afraid.
Why was I was not afraid? I remember being so sad.
This man of a different color wanted us to love, to get along, he was
so brave, so kind I wish I had met him.
Police, beating them because of color but why?
I had so many unanswered questions with no one to answer them.
They arrested men, women, girls and boys.
Those men in sheets with their faces hidden, the cowards.
I remember when Martin Luther King was shot.
Mourning came across the nation.
He had become a brave warrior who just wanted all
God’s children to live in peace.
This man I never will forget and I always strive to treat
every person as he wanted.
I remember him even though I was a kid.
He was a man with dignity, respect, love, and vision.
Now he is in Heaven and someday I want to shake his hand.
I was just a 9-year-old kid but I remember that day the horrible
injustice they did to him.
I thank him for who he was and his dream for change.
I will always remember him.
What about you?
Many of we oldsters have already received the covid19 vaccination.
Soon all who want it will receive the shot in states across the nation.
Yet, TV news keeps needlin' us showin' 12 inch needles pokin' the shoulder joint!
You would think by now that we should've all received the "point"!
A Paiute shaman named Wovoka
hailed all the tribes across the nation.
And announced himself the messiah
visions backed his bold proclamation.
Year eighteen ninety in Nevada
they came to sing and learn the Ghost Dance.
And hear of a new world prophecy
that come spring will replace bow and lance.
The earth will be covered with new soil
burying the devils with white skins.
And on that soil grows a sea of grass
where restoration of hope begins.
Herds of buffalo and wild horses
will be resplendent in their return.
And the ghosts of ancestors will come
to replace all those who would not learn.
Everyone who performs the Ghost Dance
will be lifted high into the air.
And they will stay there while earth's renewed
safely removed from the white man’s lair.
They'll be returned to the earth and
all the recent dead will revive then.
And women danced till they collapsed
pleading for the return of their men.
Every dancer wore a Ghost Dance shirt
painted with symbols of great magic.
And when told bullets couldn't pierce them
this desperate last straw turned tragic.
Written Aug.7, 2015
The teacher dies having made her small contribution
to the colonization of other planets by motivating
a boy who would otherwise be a coal miner to become
a rocket engineer.
Throughout the nation teachers
are sending their prize pupils through the funnel
flask to produce technology from pure science.
The mother and father are good, disciplined, god-
fearing people who stand firm against dissolution
and chaos. They hold their clod of soil in place
and others do the same to create the landscape
of community.
Communities across the nation
and the world produce the many to support the few
who make the tools and do the math to colonize
the planets. Once the secret of warp speed is
discovered, expansion of the species is
limitless.
Perhaps it is not a direct contribution
to destiny, yet some stories may be told
for centuries.
It takes constantly renewed
consciousness to persevere, retell the stories
and interpret lessons. You go, girl.
Manchester, born and bred, within a stone throw from the city centre
One of a family of nine kids and our mother as our mentor
In a place called Hulme, full of vagabonds and snot nosed scruff bags
Rope for belts, football boots with studs cut of as shoes and clothes of rags
Hulme was a hard place to grow, terraced housing, paved back yards and broken glass
The sound of gospel hung in the air as the black community attended daily mass
Sugar butties, porridge was the food we ate
No fatty Big Mac’s with salad-less salad on a false plastic plate
Trying to smash bottles that were laid out on top of a wall
From twenty or thirty yards with a cricket ball
Hopscotch, hula hoop, hide and seek were the games we knew
No X-box or computer games on the streets that we grew
There was social intercourse, chatter, friendship, warmth and love
Non of the Facebook, twitter, linked in and all that false stuff
Now the kids live in a pit of sole and isolation
As they tweet and twitter their nonsense across the nation
50, 000 face book friends they have never met, seen or knew
I wouldn’t swap what I had as a child
Would you?