“Long Live the Independence Day”
The day dependence duly ended
And painful birth of USA
Is something worth to be remembered
It’s been two C’s and whole half
We weren’t here at conception
But fly that flag at highest staff
And pay respect without exception
Was more than schism from old kings
And liberation from oppression
New mindset what freedom brings
To live in peace without transgression
Not slaves, not servants, serfs, peons
Be taken no advantage lately
From the beginning to eons
“Accept no lies” we value greatly
Our votes are our independence
July the 4th is symbol strong
What shall we leave to our descendants
Depends on how we move along
We’re not as free as one would think
Big world encroaches, uninvited
Too often freedom is “cha-ching”
Don’t give it up and stand united
Stop pompous jerks in tailored suits
From making their own eclipse
Betray our history and roots
Because they are on ego trips
Be independent as can be
Yet part of our wholesome nation
Think free, live free and bend no knee
That’s “independence” foundation
July 4, 2026
I receive another annoying alert on my phone
someone wants my vote, my money, my business
who are these creeps? These peons? these gnomes?
I hit report and send them to the land of ignore
I do not give strangers one ounce of my time
I am old
I could die any hour now
fantasy flowers grew all over this fantastical field
we never knew what kind of creativity this plot would yield
these were pastel, but others might glow neon-like in the sun
this enchanted garden had been planted by a miraculous one
A Wiccan who had a magic touch with everything green
Her advice was sought by peons, gardeners, landscapers and queen
She knew everything about growing, her thumb was better than most
Humble and helpful, best of all, this woman never would boast.
We’re made to feel little.
Like peons on the board of life.
We’re not insignificant and interchangeable.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Dirty warmth of tousled hair spills over shoulders,
A chocolate fountain, strong and rich,
Whose sweetness strays my eyes from the chessboard,
Running along tresses blazing golden-brown.
Despite the warring sides between,
In my heart there is peace.
Two minds entwined to one,
Black and white a prism of joy.
We need no priest to unite us --
This castle is ours, and we sit enthroned,
Watching the hapless peons wage their little war
And nightly feel sublime adjacency.
the avant-garde clan considered themselves intelligentsia
devoted to intellectual and cultural pursuits
wealthy?
yes.
intelligent? In some ways
but not intelligentsia.
true intelligentsia are illuminati.
advocates for social reforms
concerned for the less fortunate
builders, creators, endowers,
of hospitals and social services
this avant-garde clan was snobbish
felt they were better than most others
looked down at the peons
they lacked empathy, compassion and social consciousness
a friend told me that she thought illuminati means…
to sell your soul to the devil.
illuminati and intelligentsia are similar in meaning
these creeps possibly had sold their souls to the devil
their words were
me, me, me
I, I, I
not we we we
Potential commander-in-cheat
Has a PhD in deceit
If courts say he's free
We'll see an orgy
With pee that D.T. could excrete
Pepper the pink and red poodle with her nose in the air
Walked down the runway without a concern or care
She knew the peons were watching her swag
But barely gave them even the hint of a wag
These dogs are beneath me, I am the great one, she thought
Pepper the Perfect did what she needed, did what she ought
She marched down that runway in an elegant way.
Not caring about the mongrels who were watching that day
Her reds and her pinks were made by famous fashion designer Glee.
He only designed for a few actresses and film stars as important as she.
Pepper had given him his start, and she did this as a favor to him.
He had asked her to smile, but that would have cost extra with vim.
Kings and Queens choose those to die
A game of thrones perched on high
What new tactics will they try
Sandcastles up in the sky
Monarchs laugh while peons cry
We bow down when they walk by
Then we sit and wonder why
Sandcastles rule you and I
Trumpets sound and eagles soar
Signaling the tides of war
Nations fall when lions roar
Sandcastles forever more
Shadows cast on darkened door
The meek can't see what's in store
All their blood will stain the floor
No sandcastles for the poor
As I cut the grass I curse Ben Franklin
He fell in love with France’s close-cropped fields
However, in the land of Kings and Jesters
Who never ate an orange wasn’t peeled
Knew not the toil of trimming, or re-seeding
Knelt before no one save for their King
Walked slowly the gardens of the peons
Felt not the thorn or hornets nasty sting
Strode beneath the banners of their quest
An ancestry of poison, knives and lies
Powdered wigs, perfume, a silken jest
To clip the wilting flower ‘fore it dies
Curse you Ben for being France’s pawn
For ever setting foot upon a lawn
John G. Lawless
©7/2/2023
Pepper the pink and red poodle with her nose in the air
Walked down the runway without a concern or care
She knew the peons were watching her swag
But barely gave them even the hint of a wag
These dogs are beneath me, I am the great one, she thought
Pepper the Perfect did what she needed, did what she ought
She marched down that runway in an elegant way.
Not caring about the mongrels who were watching that day
Her reds and her pinks were made by famous fashion designer Glee.
He only designed for a few actresses and film stars as important as she.
Pepper had given him his start, and she did this as a favor to him.
He had asked her to smile, but that would have cost extra with vim.
Madame Bovidier makes no excuses for her misbehaviors.
her misdeeds are infamous; royalty speaks of her in astounded tones.
is she a relative? An off-blanket cousin? Or character of means unknown?
no one remembers when she first appeared or where she derived from.
her confidence level marches around rooms in steel toed marching boots.
she has the attitude of a brigadier general, and we peons fall into place.
reveling in her self-assurance. Waiting for our next instruction.
she is my honorary auntie, but even grandma fears her.
Grandpa’s magic bubbles make the world spin a bit faster.
We see the longevity, for it makes peons turn into a master.
They learn new ways to set the world on fire as they spin.
We are now in a refreshing state, where experts are in.
Grandpa was a prophet, a sage, a sharp wizard too.
He can upright the mountain with a kick of his shoe.
He is a contender for the title role of the ruler of choice.
Unless he runs into Mother Nature, whose name is Joyce.
Your smile was brilliant as you took a bow.
The upper echelon had welcomed you.
You donned humility, expressing how
we loyal members of your staff were due
deep gratitude. So few attendees knew
how often you’d demeaned us through the years
by saddling us with your less pleasant tasks.
We balked a little; you played on our fears
of job loss. We put on our happy masks.
Quite frequently, you saunter by and ask,
“Do you still like your job?” This time I’ll say,
“I don’t; I never did, your Majesty!
Your fine machine will lose a cog today.
If other peons leave, perhaps you’ll see
a boss like you makes people want to flee!”
May 9, 2022
Contest: Pick-a-Title, Vol 30
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Top Cat was all that and more.
His confidence walked ahead of him with a giant grin.
I watched him say and do outrageous things.
I was super confident myself
Because now I also was Top Cat
Watch me walk and envy me.
You peons!
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