How Do We Live Freedom and Liberty? poem - Libations Friday - 2 July 2010

*** Celebrate America! What do Freedom and Liberty mean to you and how do you choose to live it?





How Do We Live Freedom and Liberty?







What is Freedom to you and me?
Freedom of opinion is a wonder,
But is it freedom to lie and bully?
Or is it freedom to state the truth,
To free imprisoned minds?









What is Liberty to you and me?
Liberty is to live Life without restraint,
But can it also be lived without consideration?
Free will can be used for ill or good,
To harm others or give mercy and compassion.









People come together in consensus to form unions
Bonding families, cities, states and large countries
Which decide laws of restraint that can be interpreted
To bully their citizens by the letter of the law
Or bring rectifying justice by the spirit of the law.









As I watch the awesome fireworks exploding in the sky
Night has set upon the birthday of America one more year.
Hope is bursting high in our common sky of dreams.









One day and one night each year we come together as One,
Just like our country’s motto says, “Out of many, one.”









Perhaps, after two hundred years, it’s time to do this every day,
Acting as One, in agreed union, for the greater good of all.





Denny Lyon
Copyright 4 July 2010
All Rights Reserved



*** See more Fourth of July posts:


63 Quotes About Freedom and Liberty: Happy Birthday, America!

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

Fourth of July Fireworks Cartoons - 3 July 2010

Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blue Independence Day Cake





Photo Credits


Let Freedom fly by jimbrickett @ flickr

Miami beach fireworks by Bob B. Brown @ flickr

Lady Liberty by David Paul Olmer @ flickr

Liberty bell in Philadelphia by Tony the Misfit @ flickr

Exploding fireworks closeup by Mike_tn @ flickr

Freedom is not free by VinothChandar @ flickr

Powerful words engraved in stone by ricardo.martin @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

*** An amusing Fourth of July poem that celebrates living.







Fourth of July When Life is Simple







Grand Dad used to say, “Life is simple.”
I thought silently, “Yeah, when you’re 90.”






Grand Dad used to say, “Life is good.”
I asked him if it was good all the time.







Grand Dad used to say, “Life goes up and down.
Learn to appreciate it all, even when it doesn’t look good.”







Grand Dad sat on the porch steps, slicing the watermelon.
It was The Fourth of July, his favorite holiday.







He pulled out his pocket knife and poked out the large seeds,
Throwing them hard to the ground and far away into the grass.







He said, “This is how you handle problems when they come.”
We sat in the shade for a while, thinking, and poking the seeds.







Then he put his mouth to the sliced fruit, biting hard into the sugar.
He smiled wide and satisfied, as watermelon juice dribbled down his chin.







“And this is how you engage the sweetness in Life.” Grand Dad said.
And he took another big bite. And, then, so did I.







Now I knew what Grand Dad knew.
Sometimes, Life really is that simple.



Denny Lyon
Copyright 21 June 2010
All Rights Reserved


*** With special thanks to nothingprofound, a fellow blogger, a fun guy who posts aphorisms on his blog, Aphorism Of The Day, that tickle my mind, one of from which this poem sprang (Life is simple... 18 June 2010).


*** For more Fourth of July posts see also:

63 Quotes About Freedom and Liberty: Happy Birthday, America!

How Do We Live Freedom and Liberty? Libations Friday - 2 July 2010

Fourth of July Fireworks Cartoons - 3 July 2010

Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blue Independence Day Cake



Photo Credits


Fourth of July fireworks at Pismo Beach, California by puliarf @ flickr

Watermelon quarter close up by ccharmon @ flickr

Pink watermelon by Esther Gibbons @ flickr

Watermelon keys by Torley @ flickr

"Flutter-bye" on watermelon enjoying the sugar by puliarf @ flickr

Watermelon slices by moreno0101 @ flickr

Watermelon on ice by quinn.anya @ flickr

Watermelon seeds by Muffet @ flickr

Watermelon on the sky by mfrascella @ flickr

Eating watermelon with gusto by Jonf729 @ flickr



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd



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