Forget Me Not

Settle in this evening fair,
for not contrite this humble
gift donned of sweet liberty
by purposed men baptized in
blood and cannon-fire.

Forget me not.
Honor prevailed at the
hands of heroes sacrificed
upon your hallowed eve
of independence.

Did dawn not find our coats bled red?
Nay, to contrary,
our coats still bleed blue eternal
upon that crimson field
of sacrificed sons
and lamenting fathers.

Should not liberty
have begotten justice
upon the redcoat
borne of Patriot blood?

Desparate indpependence quartered
no crown in patriot provision then.
Yet, now propagate traitors among us?
The turncoat in contempt haunts me
well beyond my living days.

Shall I find scarlet
upon the back of my son?
The breast of my daughter?
the hearts of my children
centuries hence?

Surely, I returned then,
glorifed in union
...and independence.
Is it not written?

This union I gifted freely to you.
Sired by blood.
bequeathed by bravery.
Defended by honor.

Established by right.
Principled in equality.
Purposed in liberty.
For all men.

Do you know of me
My child, born free
by my blood spilled
these centuries passed?

Do you not remember me?
I was shunned by you;
cast away at your doorstep
by the voice of ignorance.

You have abandoned me;.
my brothers put to slaughter
readily forsaken by you
as you so freely sing in defiance.

You have forgotten me;
blinded by blasphemy
and foolish pride.

Open your door to me now.
Wait by your casement and
sing your sweet lullaby
of sorrow, of sacrifice, and
of patriot sons loved once again.

I have not forgotten you.
I carried the banner of ignorance
for you upon embattled fields
annointed in patriot blood.

Fool am I to have levied your
voice of ignorance for you?
Child, this was my gift to you.

Forget me not.
I am the son of liberty.

Copyright, Kevin V. Reese, 2004

I liked this a lot, especially the last stanza.

misty