Earth Day Poems

A Stick Has Been Inducted into The Museum of Toys!

A boy flung out his arm

I could see his aggression disappear 

Chemical

It melted away as his arm returned to his side

He just needed to move.

So fluid in youth

Raised on hagumber, juice, and homemade bread

Politeness 

Persecution by The System back when nobody saw The Man

Except my parents and a few 

Hippies.

I blame it on him 

not Him but 

Reagan—

What can I do with a shrunken hippocampus?

Reagan’s trickle down pee didn’t make this plant grow.

“Bipolar disorder”

“Lithium”

“Wellbutrin”

“Zyprexa”

“Tegretol”

“Trileptal”

“Olanzapine”

“Oxcarbazapine”

“Zinc deficiency”

“Pyroluria”

Meat—acetyl-l-carnitine—needed.

Fish, walnuts—Omega 3—needed.

Reagan—“Let them eat cake.”

Light and dark balance needed to regulate my organ systems.

Exercise and sex required.

Peace vital to mental health. 

Mental health vital to peace of the world community.

Why am I important?  

How can I make a difference?

Why shouldn’t you get to make a difference (peace) too?

How did Reagan hurt your mind?

Peace doesn’t come from quietude, 

from standing like a tree;

Creation is its action mood

so let the spirit free!

Give peace a chance, that’s all I’m saying.  Me and my damaged brain.  John Lennon’s memory.  The boy and girl who must walk each day, looking for God’s grace in the form of money—

pennies  nickels  dimes  quarters  singles  fives  tens  twenties

a broken gold bracelet worth $120

laying on the ground

the cement

A feather 

A flower

A faith

A peace—

  today?

God Bless the World Today!

(Inspired by Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the USA”)

I have to say America’s 

The best I’ve ever had.

I’ve lived here all my life, 

Not much travel (it’s my bad).

If I could start again, I’d visit

Other places, too.

But I love my Earthly life—

It’s sustained me through and through.

Stars on every U. S. flag, 

Thirteen moon-months stripe

If any space is tainted, 

Use that banner “clean” to wipe!

That’s the way we’ve ruled the Planet.

There could be a change:

Global aspirations from all over—

Is that strange?

I’m proud to be from the U. S.,

Tall mountains majesty,

And know that I don’t want a gun,

Peace is no travesty!

And I’d like to stand along with you 

And shake your hand, I’d say,

That I love my fellow Earthly folk,

God bless the world today!!

From the lakes of ancient Persia

To the hills of Vietnam

Let us not fail to celebrate,

Not drop another bomb.

War finally done, some great ones died.

None need face fear now, right?!

The U. N. must do its work,

All nations giving light!

All share a home, it’s Planet Earth,

From sea to shining sea.

Why don’t we now collaborate

On laughs for you and me?

I’d like to high-five you and hug

My neighbor from afar,

Let’s cooperate together

To save Earth, the Sun’s all star!

All Help the U. S. A!

Inspired by Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the U. S. A.”

I love this land I stand on

Maybe more than some could grasp.

I’m in red, white, blue tie-dye–

An equals sign my clasp!

From Denver to Seattle,

Going south to Georgia too,

Where Old Glory’s overhead, 

The great bald eagles flew,

To Lady Liberty who towers,

Welcoming with hand of light,

Our country in its guises is

Not always in the right.

But I’m proud to be an American, 

Where my family came to live.

Like others from those distant lands

Who now are here to give,

I want to stand up

Next to you,

So we can both salute

Our brave past; now, our future

Needs our people not to shoot!

From Chicago down to Texas

Innocents murdered in cold

Bloody NRA gets richer

That Amendment Two—so old!

From the swamps of Leeziana

To the sands of Arizone

The people upset, crying,

Health care stealing all they own.

Yet I’m proud to be an American,

Sharing all the problems here.

Trying to get help we need,

Not have sad eyes that tear.

And I want to sit down next to you,

Take your hand and say,

That we must play together 

If we love the USA!

From first responders’ hurt lungs

To broken bones of the police,

Soldiers’ missing limbs 

PTSD—on the increase!

From teachers and bus drivers,

Truck unloaders, work all day,

To security guards, phone callers

Working hard all night, I say,

That I love my fellow Americans

Who made the U. S. Number One!

They contributed their best

As our great citizens’ve done.

And I’ll gladly stand up next to them,

To save their bodies’ health

‘Cause they have strong American hearts—

We’ve got to learn true wealth!

I’m glad to be an American,

But do we keep it for ourself?

Most of us came from afar,

Do we put others on a shelf?

Why don’t we stand up, write

A new agenda for our land

I think it’s time our country 

Will become a smart new brand!

Yeah, I’m proud to be an American,

My humble nest is here.

I sometimes order pizza,

On the weekends, drink some beer.

I would like to stand up next to you

In all our grief and pain.

How can we use our freedom

To bring peace? wonders this brain.

USA Dot Two 

Is a newer version of

America, for winners,

Built by those of us who love

Our country and are ready 

To try something that’s more green,

Flex our muscles, stretch our bones,

Take a leap over the mean.

There ain’t no doubt I love this land—

I’ll help the USA!

I disliked actor Ronald Reagan

All the things that he would quote

And the trickle-down idea’s

Not exactly all she wrote.

My anger at rich people’s greed

Puts my love to the test—

I do care for my neighbor.

Let’s put selfishness to rest!

Yes, I’m proud to be an American,

With friendly border lands.

No need for trade in weapons—

We want new games for our hands!

And I have to stand up

Next to those

Who’ll choose our leader new

By votes we’ll use our freedom,

Finding one who has a clue.

There ain’t no doubt we love this land—

All help the USA!

I Love the U. S. A!?!

Inspired by Lee Greenwood’s song, “God Bless the U. S. A.”

I’m kind of feeling down, waiting 

For the smoke to clear—

Global warming and pollution

Make U. S. government less dear.

I’d like to do some wishful 

Thinking now about our State.

Just a bit of sarcasm 

Could clarify our fate. 

I must say that this country 

Is the kindest I’ve yet seen!

I’ve lived here all my life, 

And never has it been less mean! 

Asylum is a gift our 

Government may well bestow

On wealthy friends, bright students; 

But, mostly, ones who’ve suffered so!

Yeah, sarcasm is helping

Me to think about our plight.

But some minds lag in the U. S.–

We need to feel the bite! 

I’m proud to be an American,

‘Cause at least here I can breathe.

I thank the ones who drive cars less

And sacrifice for me! 

And I’d gladly stand along with you, 

Recycling as we can,

We’re greening so adeptly,  

In the home of every man! 

I’m so proud to be an American,

Here at least we have some sense—

Homes for homeless people—

What?  You think that we’re dense?

It’s not hard to criticize 

Our country, as we are:

A history of achievements,

Though today we’re just sub-par.

Let me go on, in irony,

It may spell out some truth

For elders who make policies,

And voters in their youth.

From the swamps of Illinoisans 

To the hot Nevada sand,

The nations’s free for speaking,

See art (not walls) cross the land!  

We should hear the children’s words,

Our education’s not so fine (?):

Are we teaching them to grow up

Leaders, honoring their minds?

We will always have the duty

Of defending from within—

From greedy and from unkind thoughts—

Virtuous we’ve always been! 

Do you see my frustrations 

With our nation as it is?

We say we love our values,

But our pop has lost its fizz.

Now, I’d like to take your hand, 

Guide you on freedom’s shining way.

If respect would ever get here—

Help me love the USA!

Liberty, Justice, Freedom

Literacy

illuminates

benevolent

examples:

rogues,

tremblingly,

yield!

Jest

until

settlement

tolerates

impromptu,

casual

enthusiasm

Frantic,

rigid

escaping

enjoyment

doesn’t

offer

much

Love

infinitely

becoming

everyone’s

road

to

youth

Jeer

unworthy

silence

towards

innocent

children

everywhere

Flagship

remedial

efforts

echo

dance,

originating

miracles!

Listening

is

blatant

enlightenment,

rousing

triumphant

“Yes!” s

Jam

under

shadows

til

Illinois

coheres

ecstasy

Frustrated

rebels

everywhere

end

dominance

of

menaces

Poem to Old Glory

Born of love for God and country,

Flag that sets our hearts aglow.

Patriots bore thee on to victory,

Blood stained foot prints in the snow.

Our great nation, all one people,

Brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends.

Fruitful fields, rocks, woods and steeple.

All in one our nation blends.

Underneath our banner glorious,

Homes and firesides fill the land.

Freedom’s wings and ships victorious,

Vision peace to every strand.

Schools and churches safely cluster,

‘Neath thy peaceful folds unfurled,

Shedding Freedom’s radiant lustre

To mankind in all the world.

Tyrant foes may plot insanely,

Binding chains of shackled slaves.

While they rant and threaten vainly,

Freedom’s flag still proudly waves.

Cowards may quail and poltroons perish,

All their false religions fail.

Freedom and the flag we cherish,

Ever glorious.  Hail!   All hail!!

Inspiration of our nation,

Banner of the brave and free.

Jubilation!   Jubilation!!

Glorious thou shalt ever be.

Edward M. W., 5/16/41

New Flag Poem

By J., 2016, 2019.  Inspired by Edward M. W., “Poem to Old Glory,” 1941

Liberty’s your inspiration,

Flag that sets our hearts aglow.

Patriots need you more than ever,

Election time of friend or foe.

One great nation, all one people,

White and black, Hispanic friends

Asian, Amerindian voters

All in one our nation blends.

Underneath our banner glorious,

Problems dwell like big old trees.

Freedom’s needed and belief

In one solution—it is peace.

Mosques and churches safely cluster

When threat comes from out or in.

Now’s the time to act together

As our better history’s been.

Tyrants, greedy, plot insanely,

Shackling workers of our state

Handgun violence rages wildly—

Where is Freedom’s flag to date?

Cowards may spend and steal the fabric

Of our stars and stripes, so low,

Yet we, together, make another—

Women, men, children in tow. 

Inspiration of our nation,

Those who try and try again. 

Jubilation!  Jubilation!

Glorious in the happy din!

Poem to New Glory

Poem to the World Flag, with Photo of Earth in Space on it, View Switched Yearly

Poem to New Glory

Born of love for land and ocean,

Flag that sets our hearts aglow.

Spacemen saw Earth in their motion

And left Moon footprints as hello!

Our great Planet, all one people,

Brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends,

Fruitful fields, rocks, domes and steeple:

All in one our Planet blends.

Underneath our banner glorious,

Songs and stories by the band,

All free to play and be victorious,

Shaking peace with every hand.

Mosques and churches safely cluster,

‘Neath thy tranquil folds unfurled,

Sharing concord’s radiant luster

With humankind in all the world.

Alien foes plotted insanely,

Invading, stealing lands from braves

But new and old world converse plainly,

Humanity’s great flag now waves.

Cowards may quail and fools may falter,

Hypocrites’ religions fail.

Liberty, the globe, won’t tumble, 

Ever glorious.  Hail!  All hail!!

Sharing human inspiration,

Banner of the true and free.

Jubilation!  Jubilation!!

Glorious thou shalt ever be!

Edward M. W.’s “Poem to Old Glory,” 1941, Original; His Great Granddaughter, J.’s, Expansion, 2014, 2019.