ka5s
07-04-2007, 11:53 PM
These Truths
We hold these truths, the Founders wrote,
Nor thought that we might note
Some truth false that was in their view
Quite plain the thing to be or do,
Self evident!
And having set their axioms,
Went on in simple words to say
What they thought the only way
A nation could be just and free,
Creating simple liberty.
Self evident, in short, plain speech,
That all men are created equal.
However, there would be a sequel
Expressing reservations not
Much thought of while the fight was hot,
About who might be somewhat less
Than equal to the best;
The oversight would later reach
Out; tear a nation half in two
Until that bloodletting was through.
Self evident, with certain rights,
Life, for one, though in our fights
Enough are killed for freedom's sake
To ask if this is a mistake.
Liberty; we have declined to specify
And take what we get on the fly,
And the pursuit of happiness,
Which we pursue to great excess,
For every pleasure that we chase
Is transient, and quick erased.
And government, the tyrant we'd rebelled
Against, they held the best to get
For us, all those named rights.
With our consent,
Unless and till it should forget
And, turning, take our lives
Our liberty, as we'd enjoyed
And our pursuit of happiness away.
For then our duty,
It was clear; it lay
In altering that government,
Even to abolish it, demolish it,
And from the ruins create anew
Another built to do
All that they said it must,
If government is free
And just.
Self evident, the document
Is too strong for our souls;
Too dangerous, its goals.
We play at freedom, trading it,
Betraying it, selling it, bit by bit,
To earn relief from fear and want,
From all the tasks that daunt
What courage we were lent.
Self evident, the evils we endure.
But no one can be sure:
We hold these truths.
© Cortland Richmond 2003
(I may have posted this before, but a search does not find it)
Cortland
KA5S
We hold these truths, the Founders wrote,
Nor thought that we might note
Some truth false that was in their view
Quite plain the thing to be or do,
Self evident!
And having set their axioms,
Went on in simple words to say
What they thought the only way
A nation could be just and free,
Creating simple liberty.
Self evident, in short, plain speech,
That all men are created equal.
However, there would be a sequel
Expressing reservations not
Much thought of while the fight was hot,
About who might be somewhat less
Than equal to the best;
The oversight would later reach
Out; tear a nation half in two
Until that bloodletting was through.
Self evident, with certain rights,
Life, for one, though in our fights
Enough are killed for freedom's sake
To ask if this is a mistake.
Liberty; we have declined to specify
And take what we get on the fly,
And the pursuit of happiness,
Which we pursue to great excess,
For every pleasure that we chase
Is transient, and quick erased.
And government, the tyrant we'd rebelled
Against, they held the best to get
For us, all those named rights.
With our consent,
Unless and till it should forget
And, turning, take our lives
Our liberty, as we'd enjoyed
And our pursuit of happiness away.
For then our duty,
It was clear; it lay
In altering that government,
Even to abolish it, demolish it,
And from the ruins create anew
Another built to do
All that they said it must,
If government is free
And just.
Self evident, the document
Is too strong for our souls;
Too dangerous, its goals.
We play at freedom, trading it,
Betraying it, selling it, bit by bit,
To earn relief from fear and want,
From all the tasks that daunt
What courage we were lent.
Self evident, the evils we endure.
But no one can be sure:
We hold these truths.
© Cortland Richmond 2003
(I may have posted this before, but a search does not find it)
Cortland
KA5S