patriotic – Wordsmith: At The Forge

Hold Her High

Questions from a hero’s grave
By brian francis

Oh say does that star spangled banner yet stand
Over a free and civilized land?
Does it still stand for justice for one and for all,
Or have they forgotten why heroes did fall?
Oh say does that star spangled banner still wave
Over a nation which hasn’t a slave?
Do they still look upon her with tears in their eyes
Or have they forgotten those first battle cries?
Oh say, can you tell me what the colors now mean?
Do they give her the honor that’s due to a queen?
Do they stand up and cheer her when she’s carried by
And what are their feelings when they see her fly?

Oh say does that star spangled banner yet stand
Over the nation the way it was planned?
Can you still see her flying wherever you go?
When the children look to her do their faces glow?
Oh say does that star spangled banner still wave
Over the heroes who lie in the grave?
And do they remember what she has withstood
In protecting our nation so free and so good?
Oh say can you tell me if you still hold her high?
Is she still the most beautiful flag in the sky?
Does she fly like an eagle and soar high above
As a symbol of liberty, freedom, and love?

Around the Flag

by brian francis

Rally round the flag now,
oh, rally once again,
on with the battle cry of freedom.
We have never knelt before
and we will not now again.
We’ll stand, strong, and proud,
and defeat them.

Let the enemy beware,
let him cower deep with fear,
The flag is the symbol that we follow.
Terror might beset us,
But never will we fear.
The threat might be deadly,
but it’s hollow.

Vengeance in the air
we will have our moment then,
as we act with the might of our union
We will rally round the flag,
and find our comfort there,
singing proudly, with conviction,
the cry of freedom.

Rally round the flag now,
oh, rally once again,
on with the battle cry of freedom.
We have never knelt before
and we will not now again.
We’ll stand, strong, and proud,
and defeat them.

We are America

By brian francis

As I watch the flag flying and waving in the wind
My thoughts are left imagining all of the places it has been
The many fields of worldly conflict, that it was raised above
Embracing fallen heroes coming home wrapped in its love
The songs about that banner and the colors in its weave
Thoughts of war’s prisoners and tears for their reprieve
Inspire pride in its meaning in the foundations of our land
From the peaks of those purple mountains to the ocean’s sand
The mix of so many nations brings a strength to our resolve
Where freedom sings unfettered in our praises of it all

The pendulum of our democracy swings in balanced arcs
Progressing as intended since the forefather’s made their marks
Declaring our right to freedom and defining our national plan
Bringing disparate peoples together as one; as American
Our steps have sometimes stumbled from whim or avarice
Our gaze has sometime faltered as we stood at the precipice
And yes, we’ve failed our directives and in the beauty of the plan
We’ve found ourselves corrected – the constitution’s reprimand
Those arcs have a natural progression the simple beauty of design
For love and in allegiance, praise and devotion I claim her mine

Copyright ©2021 brian francis

The Giant’s Steps

by Brian Francis

When the Pacific fleet at anchor lay
Softly in the harbors of paradise
Sailors were working or hard at play
Casting lots, tossing pay at the dice

Japan felt proud, a moment of greed
Causing them to make a mistake
When just before eight without word
Their intentions our strength to break

With the rising sun, they fell on the fleet
Barely able to muster their fight
The great gray ships floundered and sunk
Crippling America’s seaborne might

Anger and rage tore through the nation
The giant awakened, drew a great breath
“with the unbounding determination”
America rallied, mourning so much death

With the world on fire death’s sickle swung
The harvest was seen in the blood red tide
Dead men floating in the ocean’s embrace
Yet nothing could stop their national pride

In waves, they crashed upon the beach
And surged to win the high ground
Island after island they fought and won
Soldiers fallen and planes downed

And the battles at sea too many to count
Ships and souls, taken to their watery graves
Until at the door of Japan’s island nation
Measuring the cost lives lost lives saved

The giant had worked hard creating a weapon
Whose power had never before been seen
A bomb was created and delivered to Japan
In but a flash the scene was obscene

To the city that was, it brought total destruction
And yet another was ready to fall
Still prideful Japan not understanding the threat
Refused to concede or submit at all

another bomb brought death and destruction
The sun was born in the Japanese skies
Peace was sought submission complete
Resignation was seen in the enemy’s eyes

Around the Flag

By brian francis

Lady of Liberty

By brian francis

Oh, Lady of liberty, standing so grand,
The tired they sent you and you made them strong;
With your reflection in the spirits of man,
Telling of freedom and liberty for all.
To you they came flocking by air land and sea,
To the nation of freedom and liberty,
To you came the cries of the meek and the poor,
To you came the knock upon liberty’s door.

Lady of liberty, torch held so high,
Alone like a beacon you shine like the dawn.
Symbolic of our nations reach for the sky.
The reach it is endless, the arm it is strong.
You stand by our nation appealing for peace,
Receiving in turn, the respect of the free.
Yet, the cries that you hear from people afar,
Leaves you shining the way like a morning star.

We are America

America

By brian francis

Where is this place called America?
Where freedom rings and justice reigns.
Where equality shares a common hope
And compassion trains a steady hand
and lifts all tired souls like a tide

The Lady still stands by the doorway
lighting the way for those lost in darkness
beckoning with the promise of freedom
faithfully proclaiming Liberty for all

Where is this place they call America
the golden valleys and great forests
small patches of remembrance
promised to the future generations
snipped and carved into nonexistence
by the greedy business concerns
equal to a soul it was proclaimed

The giant must be sleeping again
waiting for some call to crisis
perhaps dreaming of its perfection
where America becomes itself
a pleasant dream

Where is this place called America
where can it be realized and when

Only within ones heart I am told
in the way we live our freedom
guaranteeing the same to all
The best that we praise – self sacrifice
giving the gift and demanding honor
flag draped caskets and caissons
and the discharge of rifles
of one, seven, seven, and six

There is the place called America
in our pausing to honor the flag
embracing the promise and creed
a willingness to share in the load
shh, quiet the giant is sleeping

Around the Flag

by brian francis

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