Best Flag Waving Poems
I took my four year old one time to a July fourth parade
We found a place that offered us a little bit of shade
Sitting there close by to us was a white haired older man
His eyes were fixed on something as the parading soon began
My son was fascinated by the old man’s intense stare
And soon we saw he was looking at the flag waving in the air
It was the first thing passing by us as the parade began to start
And the old man struggled to his feet with his cap across his heart
As we stood next to this gentleman my young son asked me why
The older man was shaking and had a tear forming in his eye
Once we all were seated and the parade went on its way
We spoke with the older gentleman and proudly did he say
That he had served in the Marine Corps during World War Two
And he was very proud he’d served the red, white, and the blue
He said he’d lost his brother and his very dearest friend
But it had been an honor to have this country to defend
The older man then said he’d lost his son in Vietnam
And he said I couldn’t tell you just how proud of him I am
I hope that some will think about the sacrifice he made
So that we can all be here to watch this beautiful parade
The old man then put his hand on my son’s tiny head
And he gently ruffled up his hair as quietly he said
My son’s name was James but we always called him Jim
And seeing you here with your Dad it makes me think of him
My son sat very quietly moving next to the old chap
And reached into the bag we’d brought to get his baseball cap
He put the cap upon his head as we watched a marching band
And slowly he reached up and took the old man by the hand
Soon another flag passed by and I was quick to realize
The old man wasn’t the only one with a tear forming in his eyes
My own eyes started misting as I stood there most impressed
As my son stood with a proud marine with his cap across his chest
Categories:
flag waving, dedication, holiday, inspirational, nostalgia,
Form:
Rhyme
FREEDOM
Our freedom isn’t free, it came at great cost
For us to be free, many lives have been lost
Against the Hitler’s and Hussein’s of this world
Men and women fought for freedom’s flag to be unfurled
Throughout the history of this Great American soil
Our freedom has been secured by blood letting toil
Had we not been willing to make this sacrifice
We would have tyrants dictating our life
So when you hear the bells of freedom ring
And the patriotic songs we all love to sing
And when you see our great flag waving high
Remember the ones who chose to die
Remember the families they left behind
No greater tribute will you ever find
Then realize each night your freedom’s not at stake
Because our military might is vigilant and awake
Categories:
flag waving, warfreedom,
Form:
Rhyme
I'm watching the downfall of the nation I served
Leadership bought by the middle East has me unnerved
Our flag waving in glory still makes this old heart swell
But our chance of survival is that of a snowball in hell
Our pride's been replaced by government subsidized laws
Free homes, free phones, free care, we no longer fight for a cause
Dependent on government we can no longer be called man
Just jackasses and sheep, no longer part of the plan
The end of an era with a system that's beginning to smell
Our chance of rebuilding is that of a snowball in hell
The state of the union has working Americans irate
Too many dreams have been shattered since 2008
Financially destroyed by a man on a mission, pray tell
Our chance of achieving is that of a snowball in hell
Categories:
flag waving, political,
Form:
Couplet
Today....... we have to say goodbye one last time to you,
For us, your children, it has to be the hardest thing we've had to do!
I know you have left this body before us and yet it seems oh too real,
So many people who loved you,"praying for what they must feel."
We knew this day would come but not yet....it's way to soon.
Begging God for his mercy...."please help us by healing you."
The sun is shining like a warm July,
The patriotic flag waving high in the sky!
I can't help but think, maybe he did save you?
What actually went wrong, why did it happen so soon?
Our lives will never be the same, we'll never talk to you or even hear your voice,
As of today or even tomorrow we will never have that choice.
You have been the teacher of God's word and a child of his grace,
I'm sure the gates of heaven opened up and the Angel's have rejoiced.
But here on earth we are left with the memory and a pain I can't explain,
We cry for no reason, we don't understand what's left to gain?
Car's are lined up around the block, we look back as far as we can see,
Our Mom is so blessed by people she touched and her life a legacy.
Now entering your final place of rest, we're put to the test,
Bishop Jesse begins to say...what a beautiful day she gave us! For God's child to rest.
He say's we are "Celebrating" life of such a great woman of God,
She was a fishermen of men and a teacher of his love,
Her great hope was for all to follow his word.....let us pray,
So many turned their lives over to Jesus on this day.
Amen! She is still bringing people to know him even in his place of rest.
So to you Mom; Fly away my Angel! you are the best!!
Categories:
flag waving, family, funeral, inspirational, loss,
Form:
Acrostic
Apollo's Stars
Apollo Creed’s the flag waving type
Sporting old glory for his Rocky fight
And when he got knocked
Right on his clock
He not only saw stars but saw stripes
Advice Per Simmons
There once was a man named Simmons
Who loved to advise men and women
And his strongest suit
Was choosing fresh fruit
But don’t buy persimmons, per Simmons
Much Needed Invention
I don’t mean to give apprehensions
To this much needed invention
But when it turns brrr
If I can’t wear fur
Give me full body hair extensions
Categories:
flag waving, funny, patriotic, sports,
Form:
Limerick
If you believe professional athletes
should punch their Free Speech Rights out
when they punch in their employment clock,
Why is it fair
to also believe
you have not twittered out your violent
and racist
and sexist
Free NonViolent Speech Rights
when you laid hands on
and pledged your crossed-finger heart
to Presidential FakePatriotic AntiAllegiance
to One First Native MultiCulturing Nation,
for which it stands
under God,
not so much idolatrously and supremely above?
With growing equity, not supremacy,
and WinWin cooperative liberty,
not competitive WinLose violent
and ballistic
restricted TopSecret mega-loyalty corporations,
and for ecojustice of, from, and for All
Species
and climates
and cooperative health care giving and receiving
ecopolitical reassurances
patriotic for ecojustice
inter-network nationed
Sacred Earth,
Headed toward polycultural-endorsing Free NonViolent Speech Outcomes
and away from MonoCulturing Twitters
cheerleading Mindless Speech
as AntiAmerican Outputs,
Indulged and over-invested in too-Yanged ballistic word choices,
not suitable for young non-violent ears and eyes,
as if such were super-calorie patriotic expedited delicious
flag waving
and wearing
and wrapping,
rather than anti-matriotic hearts of loyal-honorable matters
of and for healthy Earth climates,
both inside sacred Twittering
and outside polypathic healthy-wealth
ecopolitically incarnating.
You choose fake patriotism news,
but we,
both Left and Right,
permaculturally prefer
keepin' it realtime jazzy gospel,
Sacred Matriotic Revolutionary Rhythm
and Timeless Blues.
Patriotism is about commitment
to freedom
and justice
and equity
and mercy
and love
and compassion
and justice,
and not at all about feeling bullied to act in ways
that could only betray the integrity of your commitments
to freedom
and justice
and equity
and mercy
and love
and compassion
and peace
and justice for and with All Earthlings,
singing and dancing our best rhythms
as yet timeless blues.
Categories:
flag waving, bullying, earth, gospel, health,
Form:
Political Verse
Cajole me in the right frame of mind
For I'm vexed not because of
Personal issues but because of the
Morbid, abstract canvas of life
I'm subjected to witness, where
Groups of so-called righteous men
Drop indiscriminate bombs
On fellow humans ripping
Homes and families apart
Shedding the blood of the innocent
Then simply labeling it
Collateral damage -
Collateral damage of War
Shelling babies... collateral
Damage of war!
Then pluck out thine eyes
With two bold fingers
For I cannot bear witness
To the dislodging of families
Fleeing wildly wherever
The cold wind blows
Crossing rough seas
None with the ability of
Jesus to walk on water
Nor faith to part it like Moses
Water ...swilling with red blood
And saline stinging tears
Mothers wailing bearing
The agony in suffering
Petrified twisted faces pressed
To their wet bosoms
Fathers gnashing teeth,
Raging, panting, feeling
Like a poltroon
Powerless. Gray skies depicts
No rainbow, no promise.
Strike me down
I refuse to bear witness
Beseeching before I meet my demise,
Obliterate borders, these
Man made borders
Us with our Jingoistic attitude
Jingoistic ... flag waving
Entitlement ... displaying
Utmost xenophobia
The mantra mocking
Go home, go home, go
Home - face your fate
On your homeland soil
Drenched and soaked in blood.
I shiver terrifically in my skin
What if it was me ... you
In those weathered skin
Under the moon and stars
Branded a refugee, worthless
Vulnerable, famished, weak
Motivated by hope to
Overcome barriers and borders
And when pruned fleshed
Feet imprint the coarse sand
There's no child in hand
Swallowed up by the gluttonous sea
Let hell's bells drone on
When dastardly Superpowers drop
Nasty bombs on the innocent
Butchering, maiming ... moribund
Then labeling it collateral damage
Cajole me in the right frame of mind
For I will go stark raving mad.
© 2015 Denise Morgan
Categories:
flag waving, children, innocence, political, war,
Form:
Prose
Abandon Hope All Ye
Who Enter Here
Ever the edifice
The bold and self-serving statue
Proud ego stamped
In the courtyards and squares
Of those who have diminished ( ordinary )
Ever the hero who by guile
Steals the heroes burial
With self sacrificial offerings of ballot boxes ( rigged )
Ever the flag waving
For the faceless dictators
Who by money and army medals adorned
Assume control
Via coup d'état ( or money )
Ever the religious fanatic
Behind Iattola, priest, missionary and Papist
Ever the quiet and raucous rapist
Of faith
Ever the secret of power hunger ( sanctioned )
Allowed to dictate
Through political expediencies
Ever the murder of country men
To rule the country
Ever the nationalistic barrage of pride
For coloured cloth
Defines identity
And not humanity ( human )
Ever the innocent left to bleed
To fill the coffers of nameless greed
And ever the hate to feed
The racial, political and religious idiocy ( bigotry )
Ever the door which opens
For men and women returning home
With the triumphal marches
Of black body bags
Ever the tear gas, riot shield and rubber bullet
Ever the faces of Tienanmen Square
Ever the bodies of The World Trade Centre
Ever the terrorism of lies
Ever the truth denied
Ever love defiled
Ever the innocent left to bleed
To fill the coffers of nameless greed
And ever the hate to feed
The racial, political and religious bigotry ( idiocy )
Ever the door which open
Welcoming home
Mothers and Fathers
From their long days labours ( ordinary )
Categories:
flag waving, history, life, recovery from...religious,
Form:
Free verse
Homage to Catalonia?
Policeman wielding batons or shedding a welled up tear,
Flag waving populace or staying home in fear,
State defence of self, or defending an historic lie,
Should we pay homage, or should we just weep and cry?
Turning out to vote, or disobedient serf,
Democratic abuser or defending right of birth,
Violent state repression or debating reasons why,
Should we pay homage, or should we just weep and cry?
Hurried lines drawn on maps or quite beyond the pale,
Land up for rental or permanently for sale,
Freedom of expression or state to look and pry,
Should we pay homage, or should we just weep and cry?
Part of bigger state, or standing on your own,
Wired in kit at home, or mobile telephone,
Going with a third, or vote not home and dry,
Should we pay homage, or should we just weep and cry?
©Keith Murphy
Categories:
flag waving, conflict, confusion, freedom, international,
Form:
Couplet
Notes to Veterans
Dear Veteran:
Year after year history fades, shifts, growing dimmer to our memories.
Yet a Warrior’s experiences keep fresh as just a moment ago.
Scars remain tender, losses held sacred and too often unspoken.
I know that a Warrior holds what many others cannot…or dare not.
And could you rest that down somewhere, even for a little while, I wonder would you ever?
Dear Veteran:
Perhaps you are still young, or maybe history has faded you too.
Your bones remember everything, though, don’t they?
Oh I bet you can still click your heels together, snap a fine salute, and
Bow your head to Old Glory when she waves on by,
Our fair anthem pounding in your heart and through your blood.
Dear Veteran:
Maybe “thanks” was never said to you for the service you gave;
Maybe it was a time when uniforms and what they meant simply fell out of favor;
Or maybe it was all flag-waving and soldier songs when you finally came home.
Some folks don’t understand service, and that ol’ trick that history plays with fading—
Well, it just can’t do much to ease the starch in a memoried uniform.
Dear Veteran:
Thank you for bucking up, shipping out, and screaming your war cry when it mattered most.
Thank you for all the times you missed home, or felt lost, or sore, or angry, or scared.
Thank you for your time, the cost to your soul, and the lifeblood of your ideals.
Oh yes, I know, it’s all in a day’s work; just doing your job; honor and duty and all that.
I question sometimes—do Warriors ever really taste of the Peace they represent to others?
Categories:
flag waving, peace, veterans day, war,
Form:
Prose
Killing in Allah’s Name…
…
Pieces of burnt flesh,
splattered,
in a school,
a market-place,
a temple,
a synagogue,
a mosque,
a church,
a man,
a woman,
a child,
charred hands, smouldering corpses, fractured bodies,
torn limbs,
dismembered human beings,
just human beings,
dead, murdered,
in Allah’s name…
…A 4 year old boy,
11 year old girl,
78 year old man,
40 year old mother of six,
killed, murdered,
in Allah’s name…
…Gandhi said ‘an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind’…
…
Complicit by my silence,
I stand in shame,
of the bigotry,
racism,
sectarianism,communalism,
religious fanaticism,
wars of aggression,
invasions of distant countries,
jingoism,
flag-waving ‘my country right or wrong’,
extremism,
blind nationalism,
perpetrated in my name…
…I refuse to be silent,
to be complicit,
while the slaughter continues,
each day,
in the name of god,
of country,
of creed,
of sexual-orientation,
of caste,
I refuse to be cowed,
to be complicit by my silence,
as the killing,
murdering,
slaughtering continues…
…You who kill innocents,
you who shroud your slaughter in scripture,
you who drape your aggression in flags,
you who cloak your hate in anthems,
you who veil your intolerance in finely-tuned semantics,
you who bomb school-buses,
playgrounds,
churches,
mosques,
temples,
synagogues,
libraries,
shopping-malls,
market-places,
have lost.
…You may sow terror,
you may pound cities from afar,
you may wreak havoc,
yet you have lost,
as,
you cannot kill us all!
We shall always be many, many more!
_________
“…all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing…” – Edmund Burke
Categories:
flag waving, allah, death, hate, political,
Form:
Spring has sprung, the fields have turned green;
He walks to the sunshine and stands on his dream;
He grew up in fields of brown earth and sweet hay;
But the ones he loved best were the fields made for play.
He thinks of his dad out driving his Deere;
He whispers, “Mom I love you, wish you were here.”
He salutes for his brother in a land far away,
Protecting our freedom, his hero in every way;
The butterfly’s grab him in the pit of his being;
It’s really sublime all these sights he is seeing;
He’s wished for this day from five years old;
He turns where he’s at, as the moment unfolds.
Looking up at the flag, waving in the breeze,
His mind wonders back to the fields of Albert Lea.
Never a happier day in the sun,
Then when the crops were all in and the game it was won.
Like cows to the barn the crowd ambles in.
Slowly the din rises as a crescendo begins.
Calmed by the noise and the business at hand,
He loosens his body, focusing his mind on the plan.
There’s banter and chatter, then a teammate to call,
“Hey! Let’s play catch, you got a ball?”
Soon he is limbered up loose, and ready to go;
A sprint to the steps and into the dugout below;
He paces the floor, awaiting the call;
Then the voice on the P.A. welcomes them all.
Leading off the left fielder Harding Clay! Leftfielder Clay echo’s away;
Harding, what a name, though it sounded just great to him today.
He removes his cap and faces the flag;
The anthem rings out in tones bright and glad;
It happens each time and he’s not sure why;
He can’t make it through without tears in his eye.
The awesomeness of it all envelopes his soul;
He silences the noise, regaining control;
The great race to become the champions of Fall;
Begins with the two sweetest words he’ll recall;
Play Ball!
August 13, 2019
Categories:
flag waving, autumn, baseball, emotions, seasons,
Form:
Rhyme
Beautiful Buck
Eyes soft brown
With lashes black
Hanging down
Long whiskers
Twitch on his chin
Tapered muzzle nose
Snorts at the wind
Ears twitching below
An eight point rack
His switching tail
Jerks fro and back
A taste of Nature's elegance
I stare at him and he at me
Then he spins one hundred
And eighty degrees to flee
White tail flag waving
To his strides rhythm
Back into the woods
Last I'll see of him
Beautiful Buck
Thanks for the thrill
I came to watch
Not to kill
Categories:
flag waving, nature,
Form:
Rhyme
21 Cents
The information blackouts
Are drawn at Whitehall, while
Our controls are being hacked
And hijacked, those freedoms
That our parents fought seem
Threatened by a dangerous dream.
Eugenics shadows of the past,
Mechanics to assist or replace.
The voluntary amputee goes
Beyond the boundaries most
Would wish to traverse, or
Rather climb the distant
Himalayas, where we pollute
The air with words, transgress
Modest and grounded beliefs.
An arrogance to assume, that
Our world is superior to theirs.
Powerless in a Powerful flag waving
Nation, grounded as a rusting ship
Waiting to be made over or reborn,
Expanding families lock the door
Against the illegal money lender,
The smooth talking politician
Who wants his cut and your vote
A partner leaves without a note
Of explanation to clarify your pain.
Respect is not inborn but taught
School rules that parents disavow
With every new expletive, give
Example to a powerless refrain,
Singing in the shower, not the rain.
Extinguishing the guiding light within,
To look intently, seeing crouched inside,
The eloquence of well-spoken lies and
The stuttering of an expressed truth.
Categories:
flag waving, philosophy, parents, parents,
Form:
Verse
Rationalisation of Explanation
Do not question
The almighty plan
For such are the reprisals of fear
That turn blind despair into adulation
The evident proof
Existent in raped women and children
Irrefutable in famished stomachs
Undisguised in all the suffering
Hangs stark and uncompromising
Humanity through centuries of historical brutality
Has treated us with its incontinent blood
And defiled every precept of love
“Nothing” has come to save us.
But still we cling
Desperate in our own life times
For some semblance of a reason
Prepared to receive the miracle
Which never comes
One day they say
Is one thousand years in the mind of God
And so
All these prayers will never be answered
Not until the human voice
For a millennia has repeated a single word
It is an existence of shame in heaven
That such cruelty
Does not comprehend
This state of being called “Human”
Of one life times capacity to be
So free and so very happy
We pass unrealised in all our potential
Having lived our lives in suffering
Nailed up and stripped to idiot faith
In some bland concept of Gods fathers day
Turns every apparent truth
Into the conceivable lies of fools
Explain if you would
The torment
Rationalise by some beliefs excuse of a plan
How God allows this to happen
Faith is a mockery
Which does not accept responsibility
and allows us to close our eyes
And continue to live in luxury
And while mankind persists in its idolatry of God
And passes the buck
To some unknown biblical saviour
Some Messiah who will receive all our sin
Half the world continues starving
Raping, warring, murdering, thirsting
Dieing of curable diseases
Judged by their colour
Living in hovels on rubbish tips
Pogroms of sectarian violence
Racial cleansing
Oil pipelines
And nationalistic patriotic flag waving
God
It is an existence of shame in heaven
That such cruelty
Does not comprehend
This state of being called Human
Of one life times capacity to be
So free and so very happily
Exultant
Categories:
flag waving, lifelife, life,
Form:
Free verse