july 4th 2014 collection

I thank all who have paved the way for the freedom in the U.S. of A.,
you who gave up lands, you who left lands for a new one, you who continue to help us evolve and be better than any one person, or many at our worst., or best. Blessings. Namaste. Love. Thank you.


'4th of July - again'                   timothy r gates, 7/4/2014


4th of July - again.
red, white & blue.
flying free, stars reminding
some are blessed,
others? not so much.
past due,
fly these colours
upside down,
Lady Liberty's in distress.
many heroes and heroines
have fought in our place,
i say, "thank you."
our leaders tell our
heroes and heroines,
stripping away the euphemisms,
"screw off, we've got our raises,
health care, and retirement."
I will work this day,
facilitating the primary American b-day,
the right to shop,
no matter the day.
4th of July, again.


'Star spangled banner'       timothy r gates, 9/28/2012


Heroes,
rockets red glare -
dammit, this is metaphor
for
people killed by people,
like
collateral damage-
blessed, euphemism
for
presidential cowards.
a little honesty,
genuflecting more tiresome -
like
"We the people" -
job is done,
we tear up
knowing few Heroes
giving the red in
"The flag was still there."
'Flags'      timothy r gates, 5/28/2012
Veterans wear them
patches on chests - biceps
Hippies wore them
Pants - shirts - capes
burned holes in the stars.
shared in common,
Flags
always mean something.
Way too many wear them
shoes - shirts - jackets
tattoos with Eagle's expanded wings
not new
but on your ass?
Flag burners
believe they should matter.
Flag wearers
merely are gaudy.


Death toll                            timothy r gates, 6/24/2013
ignored
Presidents, despots and emperors
speak of
heroes and heroines,
not remembering the dead,
the little ones in the way
of heroes and heroines
following orders.
Mourning murdered children,
empathy for psychopaths,
awakens legislators,
while
other little girls and boys,
daily abducted
daily beat
daily raped,
ignored, do not find a
home
on the amber alerts.
Borrowing Tom Waits,
"Why wasn't God watching?"
the Psalmist is echoed,
"Where have you gone,...
you have forgotten to be gracious."
hands over ears
hands over eyes
hands over lips,
icons of divinity -
voices are smothered
iconoclastic leaders of nations
wipe away their, own, tears.
Another death toll is planned,
not beholding mothers and fathers praying,
"How long will our children be spurned?"
Then all stand and sing their
National Anthems.