Elizabeth Willing Powel: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarch?”
Ben Franklin, leaving the 1787 Constitutional Convention: “A republic, if you can keep it”.
~ from the Jame McHenry Journal, Library of Congress
Power to the people, as they say.
The founding fathers wanted it that way.
They had to be brave and risk their necks,
write a constitution to put the powers in check.
They didn't want a king or autocrat,
so they had to fight and not lay down flat.
Now, in its two hundred-fiftieth year,
let's make sure it doesn't disappear.
According to the constitution's plan,
too much power is not in the hands of one man.
If we should become complacent,
we'll become dictator-adjacent,
and as the story history will tell
such countries don't turn out so well.
The founders told us we must fight,
to preserve our every right.
I’m an old maiden I must confess this
Quite happy to evade domestic bliss
I only have to do laundry for one
And had one kid one and done
Never have to check in with a hubby
Don’t fake it if not feeling lovey dovey
I have a mirror so I don’t need that
Pat on the rear when I ask if I’m fat
Never have to worry if he loves me
Not in a huge hurry for matrimony
I’ve more years behind than ahead
Grateful for time as we all will be dead
I’m a bit selfish that I don’t require
Ring and shellfish with wine by fire
I’m an old maiden and I must confess
I’m content in my life I’m truly blessed
Prohibit plastic production please
impose a moratorium then ban it
as it has proliferated to the point
of permanently polluting our planet
permeating people poisoning pets
pervading places
from the peak of Mount Everest
to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
and yet you'll even catch PVC
at the bottom of the sea
as 95 percent of packaging
is used in one-and-done products
if we don't take the process to heart
personally do our part
possibly throttle
the genie already out of that bottle
which predominates the population
and the plague persists
it has the potential for propagation
'til we've had it up to here
with a plethora of polymers
coming out our ears
God below us now
With each as all there is
And miracle, a sudden word,
Flooding thoughts
We cannot faster spill,
Until a fear of drowning
In the merging all could be;
Til we become as one;
One and done and free.
While none can say the name
Of two or twenty, not of fame
The greatest gift is love bestowed
To those whose candle bears no flame.
Only life is immortal,
Dancing once with each of us
Then moving on;
Leaving us to grieve
For all that’s gone.
There's a piece of cultural rhetoric,
That has survived both victory and defeat.
As it speaks to a summary unity,
And a conclusion to become and complete.
With a simple, rhythmic verse it stands alone,
While reaching wide and distant arenas to apply.
Yet throughout its use it remains unfinished,
Since its solitary nature won't comply.
Thirty-nine and thirty-eight…
Let me get this straight.
Thirty-seven and thirty-six…
How can I be in this fix?
Thirty-five and thirty-four…
Are you sure there is no more?
Thirty-three and thirty-two…
What can I do?
Thirty-one and thirty…
Now I'm getting shirty!
Twenty-nine and twenty-eight…
I don't accept this fate!
Twenty-seven and twenty-six…
I refuse to be in this fix!
Twenty-five and twenty-four…
I’ll settle this score.
Twenty-three and twenty-two…
What's my life worth to you?
Twenty-one and twenty…
If it's money, I've got plenty.
Nineteen and eighteen…
I demand to stay on the scene!
Seventeen and sixteen…
C'mon! On a deal, I’m keen.
Fifteen and fourteen…
Your stubbornness is obscene.
Thirteen and twelve…
I’ve negotiations to shelve.
Eleven and ten…
I guess I'll just give in.
Nine and eight…
It's getting late.
Seven and six…
This, I can't fix.
Five and four…
There is no more.
Three and two…
I love you.
One and done.
Five on the floor, five and more
And they're dancing to the show
One and done, over and won
As the march to madness goes
Game on, and the game is for
Five on the floor, five and more
Taking pains to stay in range
For the game lives in the score
Forty to go, five or more
For the madness knows the score
Five on the floor, five and more
Leaving it all on the floor
Now it’s done, and one moves on
And the one that plays no more
Breaks our hearts, the madness roars
Five on the floor, five and more
counting the garden
stop, there is but one and done
including the Earth
Authors Note: The author confesses; he was never good at math and never made it past the number one in his ability to count.
Amazed at the quarterback who wears number three. Never gets down or gives up does he. His teammates call him “the man” for more then his ability. He puts it all out there, not just his agility. The tools aren’t as great as the past,but his spirit makes the game last. Cheering up and encouraging teammates on the sideline or field, he’s sure to get the maximum yield.Win or lose don’t ruin his swagger,or sway.He loves his teammates in a very unique way. Course he’d rather play in the sun, but any element is ok, because it’s all about, one and done.
Corinthians One and Done
As a result of God's greatest grace,
We have been of;f to a poetry race;
Mine were bad and did not improve,
And from Facebook they did remove.
Write many more poems you will do;
Replaced all of mine and are in lieu,
And when overexposed to sexuality,
Like in Trump found another fatality.
God had made His greatest big error,
By turning Trump into a holy terror,
When with Bible was over and done;
One Corinthians had been best one.
Jim Horn
Had to correct last line.
I, the technologically challenged one,
am surfing the web even as we speak.
I thought computers would be one and done,
but now I find that we must all speak Greek
and learn the ins and out within a week.
This is nothing new; it's gone on for years.
I learned the basic Word and Excel stuff
once upon a time, but none of it clears
a temp agency, it's just not enough.
So in the end I'm playing blind man's bluff.
One and done
We broke up before we begun
"We should be friends"
Because that's how we begin
Before the end
Then we meet in the middle of the night
We hold each other and stay quiet
There on the swing
I swear the angels were about sing
Then we start kissing and teasing
And touching and squeezing
What happened that night will be taken to the grave
But the memories I will save
Because that was a dream night with my dream girl
But the next day gave me a whirl
We're gonna be friends......
Until the end
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