(Inspired by Fortunate Son)
Some folks wave the flag on high,
And shout the reason soldiers die.
They speak of duty, proud and loud,
From marble halls above the crowd.
Some folks dine where power stays,
And praise the war on cable days.
They toast the troops with polished tone,
While none they love will ever go.
They call for courage from the land,
They talk of glory close at hand.
But when the papers list the names,
Their families never join the flames.
I hear the drums across the sand,
Another convoy leaves the land.
Another mother waits alone,
Beside a silent telephone.
The wealthy heirs sleep safe at night,
Their wars are fought on screens of light.
Their boots stay clean, their hands stay dry,
While poorer sons must march and die.
So when they ask who answers call,
Who walks the desert, dust and all,
Look past the mansions standing tall,
You will not find their sons at all.
By Rick McGrath, Ph.D.
March 2026~
It seems but short moments ago
That my three sons began to grow
and Time became my better friend
It's deceit then I did not know
Youthful time is a treat to spend
and shove Old Time across a bend
Forever would last, we would see
Moments and days that never end
Days now heavy with memories
yet time continues it's mad tease
My boys still run in summer's sun
For I can dream the things I please
Now time and I forget to run
But on my wish list, Number One
I'd sit and watch my boys at play
And Yesterday would still be fun
So plum different, my twin sons.
What one likes, the other shuns.
Son M- Persistant Perennial
Lively Loving
Unpredictable Untimely
Manly Masterful
Son J- Patient Predictable
Leisurely Lawful
Unbiased Understanding
Mindful Mature
"Why, God?
So many Sacred Sons.
Some shining or burned caramel,
And some of pearl.
Some who loved their Mothers,
Some who I wanted to protect from them.
Many who I wanted to parent,
Many who I wished were my older brother who never came home.
So many I shared tears with,
And intimate moments.
The word love, exchanged with ease.
Conflict meaning instant distance.
This heart it opened,
And closed,
And opened.
And I listened, God.
I loved myself deeper,
Each time the cycle ended.
I emerged again, I applied the new.
I fell on my knees, time and time again.
My hands opened wider and my tears grew saltier.
Why, God?
I listened,
I followed.
Why is it never me?
Why does it never last?
Who was the Son I heard the song about in my heart?
The one from my visions?
Forever a chapter, always learning myself again.
How long have I been doing this?
How many lifetimes, God?
What am I missing?...
I met myself.
I guess it's time to do it again.
And again, God.
Some things I don't understand.
The list it grows.
The leverage to leave does also.
I love myself and I know myself.
Enough chapters, God.
I am tired."
Carpenters from Carpinteria
Great attendants of frame
Friends and sculptures of a mind
Tools and craftsmanship
American tries for all that binds
Weep Africa, weep on.
The battle with death is one we dare not to fight,
For the call from the great beyond is outside the scope of our existence.
Just as our known hero Ngugi Wa Thiong'o has fallen,
Like countless unknown heroes forgotten to time,
We shall all follow this path of no return one by one.
Fight Africa, fight on.
The foot prints left on the Sands of Time by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o are known to many.
As we follow his foot prints,
We are alive to the fact that there are other foot prints,
Though known to few,
That we must follow.
MY BOYS ARE MY LIFE.
BEING WITH THEM MOST OF THEIR LIVES TILL NOW, WITH THIS UNFORESEEN CHANGE HAS AFFECTED US AND CHANGED OUR LIVES.
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HAS DIMINISHED.
I AM NOT AS HAPPY. FOOD DOESN'T TASTE THE SAME. THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE WITHOUT MY BOYS. WHEN I SPEAK WITH THEM, I CAN HEAR IT IN THEIR VOICE AND SEE IT IN THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.
A LOOK SPEAKS VOLUMES AND A TEAR CAN SAY A THOUSAND WORDS.
MY BOYS ARE ON MY MIND AND IN MY HEART, AND I WILL NOT REST UNTIL I AM REUNITED WITH THEM AGAIN.
Mama we are your Abba Fathers Kings-Sons-Queens-Daughters
Mother we are your children
We should have understood
And who to say we didn’t or should
As adults what we were
When we were children
Mother’s embrace to Elohim Abba Father
His Kingdom Kings/Sons, His Queens/Daughters
We now embrace, mother’s embracement now in such
---A beautiful place
For all eternity, Hallelujah thanks be to God
And to God be the Glory
Mama we are your Abba Fathers Kings/Sons-Queens/Daughters
12/26/24
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2024©
We are the sons of a storm
Our shield of a fragile meaning
The umbrella to the rain of life
Inevitable wetness, our fate
Lonely shuttered days
as Covid slammed at our souls
To fill the long day
I tried writing of my sons
how they fill my heart with love
I look at you and I feel intense love.
A love so indefinite that it chokes me from within.
You are mine, I made you.
Finally, something good came from me.
I never understood what love really was, until I had you.
My two sons will always be part of my life
I had always watched them with that special drive
When your kids were born, I looked into your eyes
And not once but twice I won that special prize
I always knew you two boys would grow up to be great men
My two sons show the world what our family represents
In your life, you will make mistakes
And in the end, I know you will tackle anything you face
The work ethic that you do with so much pride
You never had your family life or work collide
There is no doubt you will always succeed
In life, there are no guarantees, but in my mind, you will always exceed
I will always be there if you need something
Call me if you just want to talk, or if you are struggling
Because every day I will tell the world how proud I am to say
You are my two sons
Sons of meekness
Are chivalry
Manhood and zeal.
how times fly
how quick you had grown
then you flew the nest and had
little families of your own
i know you are busy and dont stay in touch
but no matter what happens
your always welcome home
Through the Golden Gate we march, We Sons Of Thunder
to Rise and See Lifes Illusions Crumble,
Sacred Swords and Spears we Wield into the Valleys Of Jerusalem
Ankh in hand, Halos and Solar Diadems
We cross the Threshold , Trodding in Grace
and Ride Upwards towards the Seventh Gate,
and proceed passed the Gatekeeper of Ancient Wisdom
and Vanquish the Perils from False Religions,
Inward we go Into the Temples Of Light
where Cathedrals of Infinity Shine Bright,
and Bonfires Blaze where we reap Flames from Eternity
Holding High the Sacred Lantern of Destiny,
we Trudge Onward and reach the Summit of Israel
and Stake Claim to the Powers of the Holy Grail
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