»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #1
»
Freedom
| Open Poetry #1 |
|
Freedom |
|
|
Fred Hobbs Member
since 1999-06-08
Posts 329Tallahassee, Florida, US |
Freedom I met him one day standing next to his booth A gnarly old guy, he was missing a tooth He was selling survivalist gear by the way To help us prepare for the old Y2K He was dressed head to toe all in green camouflage Which he said he had bought at his neighbor’s garage He had a strange patch sewed on his right sleeve It said “14th Militia – Just Love It Or Leave” I asked him about all the goods that he sold He said he sold dry beans that never get old He also sold gas masks from old World War One And if I wanted him to he could get me a gun He said that Bill Clinton was coming to call Bringing blue UN troops who would take from us all Our guns and our freedoms and lock us away It would all come to pass on the next New Year’s Day “But why would he do that?” I asked with straight face “And why would the UN take over this place?” He said it was part of the damned New World Order They’d take all our guns and then open our border They’d make us all slaves to a strange government That was racially mixed; did I know what that meant? He said they would burn up our fine Constitution And that those who loved Christ would soon face execution He said that the police were just Jack-Booted Thugs And the gays and the blacks were all just on drugs And that people should never agree to pay tax That the cops and the feds should be given the ax He told me that democrats all were bad news Most Republicans too had some liberal views And he made sure I knew he was not fond of Jews If they all left tomorrow he’d welcome the news He asked me to join the militia and fight Be a good Christian soldier – the Patriot Right He said they would arm me and train me to kill He spoke of the traitorous blood I could spill I asked if he felt he was safe saying this “Oh yes,” he replied with an impassioned hiss “I have freedom of speech, they can’t take that away I can say what I want, though they hate what I say” And I asked, “Are you free to worship your God?” “Oh yes,” he replied “But your question seems odd” Are you not aware of the old Bill of Rights? Are you one of those men the militia now fights?” I told him that I was a Jack-Booted cop He said that I should have told him to stop That the right to free counsel I should have provided If I’d read him his rights he would not have confided From his Freedom of Speech, well I asked for a breather As a patriot Christian, he impressed me as neither I acknowledged his right to say what he thinks But I told him I thought that his attitude stinks I asked him to think of those rights that he’s got I told him he had them ‘cause folks went and fought Folks of all colors, Christians and Jews Good men and women gave all they could lose But as I departed his voice rang undaunted Another man stopped and my thoughts became haunted Perhaps this was a man who would join in his fight And share in the hatred that spewed forth that night And it came to me then that our freedoms are strange Though I wouldn’t suggest that they ever would change I thought how much better our good nation’s plight If we all exercised the right to do right sandman |
||
| © Copyright 1999 Fred Hobbs - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
jfreak Member
since 1999-06-17
Posts 306Yuma, AZ, USA |
I like this poem. People like that just make me sick, considering I am in the REAL military!!! We don't take kindly to those wannabes playin soilder putting us down when they ain't got a clue to what it takes be a real military man. Being in the Marines, honor, courage, committment, and discipline are instilled, not practically beaten into our brows. Those "boys" have none of those qualities and aren't worthy to carry a weapon nor call themselves Americans. Thank you for writing a poem about such cowardice and exposing it for what it is. Jfreak |
||
|
doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
Your story is poignant, Fred. It's sad there is so much hatred cloaked in a "righteous" cape. Thank God this man has a place to air his views, though, as you so excellently stated. Yes, freedom is having the right to speak on such a platform .... AND it's also having the choice to refuse to join in this type of self-righteousness ignorance. Nicely written.  |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Excellent points made, Fred, in true ballad style (like I would've expected anything else). Fine work, as always! |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
 |
||
|
Sally S. Senior Member
since 1999-06-07
Posts 847Ohio |
Wow....very powerful expression. Very thought provoking...to be sure. Good work, Fred. |
||
|
Lost Dreamer Member Elite
since 1999-06-20
Posts 2464Somewhere near the Rainbow |
excellent! |
||
|
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Fred! This is perfect! You've outdone yourself, my friend! I finished reading it and just said "wow!" it blew me away! I loved the poem and the message within! Gosh, it was so good!!!!!!  |
||
|
Fred Hobbs Member
since 1999-06-08
Posts 329Tallahassee, Florida, US |
Thanks to all who responded. I had fun writing this one. And to the Democrats in the house I apologize for the lower case d. I discovered the typo after it was posted and I wasn't sure how to correct it. Thanks again. sandman |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Let's hear it one more time For Independence Day  |
||
|
elvira Senior Member
since 1999-07-06
Posts 936California |
though i am not american...this poem was very well put...a great read ------------------ If I had my mouth I would bite. If I had my liberty I would do my liking. In the mean time, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me. ~~~Shakespeare~~~ |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||