“Stars & Stripes”
“Stars & Stripes”
I need help. My moral fabric is degenerating, my broad stripes are eroding and my bright stars are losing their shine. There is still hope, but the responsibility is not mine. Please don’t give up.
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“Playground Quarrels”
\”Playground Quarrels\”
We are in the longest government shutdown in history. To me, it feels like an elementary school fight to determine who rules the playground. In the meantime, federal employees are not getting paid for their work. Yes, they will get paid ‘eventually’, but who will cover their expenses while the children in Washington play games? Is there an adult on the playground?
The games they are playing are real. American lives are the chips. The audience is the world. The venue, The United States of America. I can’t help wonder what other world leaders are thinking of our country during these times. Perhaps they are enjoying the show while laughing their asses off. Perhaps they are planning attacks. Or maybe, just maybe, they are speeding up the attacks they have already planned. That can’t be possible. Can it? After all, our Commander in Chief recently and proudly announced that we have defeated ISIS.
I believe our guard is down. Our patriotic shield is weak and the moral fabric of this country is quickly deteriorating. One thing is for sure. History is being written right now. Only time will tell how much damage these games will cause. Right now though, common sense tells the audience that these games are bad for our country.
Will we emerge as a united country once again? Will our soldiers continue to express their pride in protecting this great nation? Unlike what some of the children in Washington may say, these soldiers are not on a paid vacation. As an American, I’m grateful for all the sacrifices they make to protect our freedom and this great nation.
As I think of the current state of our nation, I am reminded of “I Belong”, a poem I wrote from the perspective of a proud American Soldier who is in love with his wife and his country. If there is an adult on the playground, please jump in at any time to establish order. A collapsed country will have no need for a border.
The adult on our playground was Coach Don. He always made sure our playground was safe and solved any playground quarrels quickly. After doing so, all the children happily went off to play together or to enjoy the sprinklers, especially during the hot summer days. Coach Don always knew exactly when to turn on the sprinklers.
In case you are interested, here is my poem: I Belong.
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“El Sufrimiento Latino”
“El Sufrimiento Latino”
(Spoken):
Ama
La neta que no la vamos hacer aquí
Voy a probar suerte en el extranjero
Mañana me marcho
Platicando con mi madre
Mi sueño yo le conté
Recuerdo bien mis palabras
Cuando con ella yo hable
Yo me soñé en la frontera
Pero que chinga lleve
Deje a mi pueblo querido
No tuve para comer
Bajo las lindas estrellas
Pensé a mi tierra volver
Las lágrimas de mi madre
Satisfacían me sed
Mi aventura en el desierto
Fue lo que más me peso
Yo presencie la violencia
Cuando la migra llego
Mataron gente inocente
Pero por suerte a mí no
El sufrimiento latino
En el pasado quedo
Por fin llegue a California
Gracias a Dios lo logre
Esto ya no era un sueño
Es la pura realidad
(Spoken):
Y como en mis sueños yo se lo pedía
En California, un trabajo ya encontré.
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“I Belong”
“I Belong”
My travels, often long but few,
Continually keep me on the front lines,
Far and away from you.
Blessed to have you,
I pray for your well being,
And for my safe return,
For on this soil, by your side,
Forever I belong.
Seconds before your last kiss,
And just before my departure,
I close my eyes and in my mind,
Under the dim lights, the bright sun,
Or the clear moonlight,
Your last pose I capture.
When we are apart,
You are closer to my heart.
As I leave our nest,
I begin my quest, to on command,
Relive the moment when I captured your last pose.
For in your absence, frozen in time,
This moment feeds my heart,
Which forever holds you close.
The thought of leaving you is frightening.
The possibility of never returning
Is as real as all the stars lighting my nights,
When they are brightly shining.
While I am away, my mission is to survive,
And to protect my countrymen,
Even if I will never again be seen alive.
When I am at home, with you,
My mission is to be the best husband I can be.
To make you happy, make you feel safe,
And bring you smiles, all while wishing for the day,
When I never again have to traverse those immense oceans,
Or walk those long miles.
My journeys without you,
Although bearable,
Are always grueling and long.
As I move from port to port,
Your unconditional love,
Understanding and support,
Are my pillars and my strength,
To keep moving forward,
To protect my country,
For in it, and next to you,
Forever I belong.
