Patriotism

Days come and go to celebrate the nation
Today is the day of independence
Day after day, there is the sound of explosions
Dancing in the street and the smell of burning charcoal

There is a parade down the street
So many people dressed up
Doing back flips down the street
Or the sound of Sousa from the marching band

Seems the music is full of pride
So much flag-waving
So much excitement
A celebration of nationalism

Yet the mind wonders if this is patriotic
So much play,
The flag perhaps a decoration more than a symbol
Could the day be an excuse for fellowship?

The mind wonders what constitutes love of country
Is country an extension of family?
Is it the idea of home, spread beyond the neighborhood?
Is it a willingness to sacrifice?

The ears hear words from old speeches
Calls to conserve and save,
Calls to consider what to do for the community
Calls to look out for neighbors and family

The ears hear words from the new speeches
Calls to spend and boost the economy
Calls to find a comfortable life
Calls not to fear or plan for the future

The mind is confused by what the ears hear
So many changes one decade to another
The old way was one of community
The new way is selfishness

Perhaps Patriotism is not found in flag-waving
Perhaps it is not found in seeking happiness
Perhaps the previous generation had it right
Love of country is shown through love of neighbor

Siesta

The festival continues
Sound fills the air
The heat fills the body with exhaustion
Games continue, but the body is ready to break

Days work is finished, and the day is hot
The body is not ready for more games
The mind is tired
There is time for sleep

Sweat leaves the body
So I slowly enter the bedroom
Lay down to give the sore muscles a rest
And sleep through the heat until sunset

Games

Perhaps the Bard knows something after all
For he tells us that “the play is the thing”
Play is the thing that sets the heart
Play is the thing that preserves youth

Laughter and joy
Stepping away from the heaviness of life
Finding a rest from all that weighs on us
In the cycle of life, play is the thing

The body grows stronger
The mind sharpens
The whole of the self is sharpened
So much opportunity for play

Relationships are built
Every laugh cements people together
In the game there maybe a winner
Yet all leave having gained

Play is indeed the thing
To open the heart to everything

The Expert (inspired by “Life on the Mississippi”)

The layman is overwhelmed
Seeing the expert working
Everything looks so easy
Yet, how he does it is a mystery

His eyes concentrate
He is ready to call out orders
Life and death lies in the pilots hands
The pilot knows every change that happens

The layman does not see the danger below the surface
The pilot remembers where the danger lies
He reads at every stop
Speaking with other pilots and learning the conditions

Every day the river is busier
So many crops to move
People seeking safe travel
North to south, the Midwest connects with the world

Rivers flowing into the sea….
Sea flowing into ports
River boats going upstream
Rhine, Amazon, Mississippi all connect

Pilots following each route
Each knowing his own little path
Mind not ready to learn the signs for a new path
An expert as far as his world flows

Feasting

The feast days come
Communities celebrate
The streets fill with families
So much joy, so much laughter

Seeing the conjurers with their tricks
The hand moves, and the little eyes open
Perhaps the skeptics eye looks for the method
Yet the wide eyes enjoy the show

Music fills the air
One person after another takes the microphone
So many styles
There is a question which will win

A day of creatures in the street
A day of costumes and acting
A day when old bands become street musicians
A day when people put aside their pride for fun

They say it is a sin to fast on the feast day
To mourn when the community rejoices
So it is time to wear the happy face
To laugh freely at the clever shows

Light hearted as the day ends
A day of play, rest, and feasting