I celebrate Independence Day complete with watching fireworks. Despite the major flaws of many of the country’s founders in overlooking the equality of certain races and genders, I believe in the core idea of people forming the government and everyone having a say. But I’m troubled by what passes for patriotism in some circles these days as well as the backward movement on human rights. Anyway, here’s a poem I wrote and a playlist I curated for the day.
Allegiance
The city filled with flags proclaims
its puffed up patriotism
the billowed colors clamoring
for adoration, for awe.
The crest of a cardinal catches
my eye instead, my loyalty pledged
to saving it, to a future of
scarlet feathers brightening trees.
A constellation of white wood
anemones on the creek’s bank
garners my allegiance, my hope
for beauty in the years to come.
The first blueberries of the year
bring with them a taste of wonder
and a wish for a republic
filled with enough fruit for all.
Tomatoes, roses, rainbow stripe,
great whales, clean snow, and polar bears,
blue morpho butterflies, clear skies –
all things for which I take a stand.
**
And my playlist, in large part celebrating those who have been historically excluded.
Happy Independence Day!
Nomadic Noesis 