Then and Now: 4th of July

In memory of Independence Day.

I wonder what our founding fathers would say

if they saw America today.

 

The carriages are gone

along with different kinds of emissions -

replaced by automobiles

which make deadly incisions

in our protective sphere.

 

I wonder what our founding fathers would say

if they saw our country today.

 

Gone are the days of pistols

and honor-ridden duels to the death -

now cowards wielding sniper rifles

taking lives in a single breath

with plenty of cash but no remorse.

 

I wonder what our founding fathers would say

if they saw this nation today.

 

No longer are we brothers and sisters

singing patriotic songs of praise -

now every man and woman for self self self

and paranoid, distrusting days

of spotting the next potential "terrorist".

 

I wonder what our founding fathers would say

if they saw our not-so-United States today.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

They wouldn't be very pleased, would they. Never in my lifetime have things been such a mess. A very thoughtful and well put together poem, M.D.

[PianoandPage]

i love the "incisions in our atmosphere" line.

i think they'd be shocked and angered.

[Sharon Miller Bolander]

Very thoughtful and thought-provoking piece! I suspect our ancestors would drop their wooden teeth over what is happening today. With the price of gasoline, we might just want to go back to the horse and carriage. Sharon