Invasion Celebration

There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself. - Thoreau

War's been declared.

Battle lines are drawn.

Mighty king versus lowly pawn.

The trenches are dug.

Both sides feeling smug.

Up versus down.

Smile fighting frown.

Demon pitted against clown.

Will you laugh today or cry?

It's do or die.

Give your troubles forty licks.

Use everything in your bag of tricks.

Assert joy's presence.

Bubbling with an almighty effervescence.

Rise above the strife.

Remember ...

... it's your life ...

Author's Note

In 1848, Thoreau went to jail for refusing, as a protest against the Mexican war, to pay his poll tax. When RW Emerson came to bail him out, Emerson said, "Henry, what are you doing in there?"' Thoreau quietly replied, "Ralph, what are you doing out there?"

Reviews

[R.E. Ray]

Love both Emerson and Thoreau. A Transcendentalist’s thread runs through this poem, Pete. As for war, love and everything between, the individual’s nature is central. We don’t choose life’s events, but we can choose how we respond. Reminiscent of RWE’s essays, including Self Reliance. Good work!

[Pete]

a great philosophy tied to nature that spawned some terrific writes by such folks. thanks r.e. ... :)