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FOR ALL FREEDOM LOVERS
"IT'S TOP HAT" WITH ABE, THE POOR MANS' POET

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My  e-book, "THE WORLD, WAR, FREEDOM, AND MORE" available for FREE.
(re: Vietnam, Gulf War, and all Vets, Native American, Trail of Tears and
Chief Joseph, ) available  in .zip or .exe format.  Just ask for it.
New (old) book, "MOONTIDES, AND OTHER CHANGES" as well as "THE WORLD, WAR, FREEDOM, AND MORE" are now available for free viewing or download in text format at  http://home.att.net/~abeabe/index.html.

 I am also now collaborating with a photographer, Dominic Alessandra on a book of his photos and my accompanying poetry.  It's about indigenous peoples around the world.   Visit his site at http://www.paxcorps.com for more.
  
  SEVENTY-SIX


In the year of 1776
Dreams of Freedom were Declared
New to the World, a way of Life
No way, to be compared.

Through the years, embattled
Some,  tried taking it away
But, it survived, though changed
To what we know, today.

They’ve brought terror to our shores
And threatened our security
Made us run for cover
In this Land of the Free.

They made us see the World
In a different kind of light
Of the jealousy and hate
That would have, Freedom take flight.

But, the Soul of a Free people
Will always rise above the rest
To show the tyrants of the World
That Truth, comes from  the Test.

Though, nothing is ever perfect
And we learn through our mistakes
Liberty will be triumphant
No matter, what it takes.

Our People and the Stars and Stripes
Will always lead the way
Because we know, what it’s like
To have an, Independence Day.


I spent a couple nights at Bull Run Campground/Manassas Battlefield and the "Spirits" must have been restless as I could surely sense them all around.

GHOSTS OF BULL RUN  

I'd heard about "Bull Run"
Maybe, back in school
But, spending some time there
Was, a special learning tool.

I could feel the Souls
There was something in the air
The life and death of struggle
Is some, sensation, there.

An aura of the ghosts
All around Manassas
A feel of all those beings
Of those warring classes.

Another tragic wartime
With brother fighting brother
As each cry with dying breath
"Oh, Mother, dear Mother!"

You can almost feel the cannons
From their booming sounds
And the whirring of the slugs
From all those killing rounds.

Hiding 'hind a rock
Or, under a sloping hill
Hoping, not, to get shot
Or aiming for the kill.

It seems so peaceful now
But, some Souls not at rest
Are waiting in the shadows
To, test the final test.

History lessons never teach
All of the things, they could
And wars don't make the pain
Felt / hurt like it should.



STILL IN THE HEART

I have this Lady friend
Whose Mother  passed away
Moving to a better place
And, a peaceful day.

I know about the pain
That, she is going through
Because the loss of "Mom"
Is the saddest, that is true.

Sometimes, it is a blessing
When their "life" is in decline
Not, what it used to be
When, "everything" worked fine.

But still, it hurts so much
When Mother goes away
When you know you won’t see Her
For, forever and a day.

But the memories will be there
And will help, to get you through
When, you’re thinking of Mom
And, feeling kind of blue.

4-12-2003



LEST WE FORGET

First, there was Jessica
From the first to be taken
A hero found by heroes
And a movie in the making.

She was brought back home
To the country she fought for
And amazingly, the next day
We have back, seven more.

There’s just six more to go
And wouldn’t that  be neat
As we pray for their safe return
With  the task, nearly complete.

But, please let us not forget
That, there may be one more
Scott Speicher waiting, hoping
To be brought through freedoms’ door.

We say, "We won’t leave them behind!"
And on this very, happy day
Let’s continue with that quest
To do exactly what we say.

For, there are many, many more
Whose fates are still unknown
From those wars of the past
Still waiting, to come home.

Those POW/MIAs
And their recovery
Must always be our Nation’s
Foremost priority.

4-13-2003







WHAT TO SAY? WHAT TO SAY?


Someone wrote and asked me
Just what I had to say
About our Men and Women
We've sent into harms' way.

I don't know what, to say
I wish I could be profound
Wish, I could make each step they take
Be on, safe, protected, ground.

I wish I could, explain to them
Why they must fight this war
When sometimes, I even wonder
What, all the fighting's for.

Sometimes there are no answers
Except those, we each may find
When we think of wrong and right
What we know, in heart and mind.

Freedom isn't always perfect
And there's some will never know
What it takes to make it work
And to make humankind grow.

People who know the feeling
Of the threat, of its' loss
Know, there is nothing else
That is worth, that greatest cost.

When people fill those ranks
And march off to pave the way
Of that road to freedom
There's not much, we can say.

Except, "Thank you, and take care!
And we, who believe in you
Will keep you in our heart and mind
Until this battle's through."

No matter what some others say
And we must give them the "right"
Because it's for their Freedoms, too
That, you take up the fight.

3-27-03


WAR DRUMS

There is the distant rumble
Of those sounds we hate to hear
The drums of war are beating
And, that day is drawing near

When a shot will be fired
And the first one, from our gun
To start another conflict
We thought, we'd already won

We had held the winning  hand
And we threw it all away
In that game of money/politics
We always seem to play

This time the stakes are different
And we're gambling so much more
Since we found our enemy
Inside our own, front door

Now, he could be our neighbor
Or, somebody across town
Who's not afraid of dying
Just to take someone else down

How can we battle hatred
They feel their God has bred
When they think, they're better off
When they end up, dead

So, when those drums stop beating
And the march to war is through
I sure hope that we don't find
We bit off more than we could chew.

  
03-03-03



TWENTY-FOUR AND COUNTING

There's seven more  Heroes
Added to that legacy
Of space flight and travel
From, the Cape of Kennedy.

An almost perfect Mission
Of the scientific kind
With a myriad of experiments
Meant, to better humankind.

Two Ladies and five Men
Plus thousands on the ground
Excited about their return
As they were homeward bound.

Only minutes left, to complete
Another page of history
Only, to leave us, with questions
Of yet, another tragedy.

Sadly, we all forget
About the dangers of each Flight
We take it all for granted
When, everything goes right.

But, we'll keep on going on
For it's in, the Nature of Man
To not let the setbacks
Change, the goal of the Plan.

Through lives ended, prematurely
By what, some Greater Power willed
They left their mark upon this Earth
With some dreams, they have  fulfilled.

Now, they're with that growing Crew
Who fly around in Heaven
Another group, who we should call
"The Magnificent Seven".


2-1-03




VETERANS DAY 2002

Well, here we are, once again
With Veterans, in heart and mind
Still trying to heal, from 9/11
Facing Saddam, and his kind.

With a new War, looming
And the one that we now fight
Our Soldiers and our Nation
Willing , to do what's right.

It's not something, we want
But, something, that we must
As long as we, all believe
Our cause, is true and just.

Seasoned troops and new recruits
And Patriots in our Homeland
All hoping for peace and goodwill
And Freedom, in every foreign land.

Maybe some way, sometime, this day
Will be one, of true celebration
With Veterans a part of the past
And no more War, for any Nation.
 
10-10-2002
  


I was very honored to read this (written expressly for that ceremony) for the POW/MIA Tribute Ceremony at the Dickson, Tennessee VFW Post 4641 on September 13, 2002.  I also recited "POW/MIA", "A TOUCH, IN THE WIND", and "VETERANS ALL".
I shared the podium with Paul G. Myatt who is an ex-POW from the Korean War and related some of his horrific experiences while in captivity.  It was a very humbling experience for me, and I think, most of those attending the Ceremony.

POW/MIA STORIES

It's hard to find, the stories
That, they won't talk about
It's hard, to realize the things
That they had, to go, without.

How can they let the feelings
(Even, they don't understand)
Show to, any other people
In this, Freedom's Land.

We can’t know, the hardships
Unless, we were there
Especially, when they came back home
To those who didn't, seem, to care.

Unless you had, lived through it
Watching, Comrades that had died
Why should they, talk about it to us
Of, the tears, inside, they've cried?

Even, if they chose to tell us
What difference, would it make
Would it be worth the chance
That, they would have to take.

Why should they bare their soul
That's already been stripped, clean
Because even with, a picture of it
We couldn't see, what they have seen.

Sometimes, all we have to do
Is, to look into their eyes
And think that we might see or hear
Their, mournful, pain-filled cries.

The POW who came home
Who lived, through that Hell
Can't tell the stories, of the MIA
Who  never had, a chance to tell!

So, we may never, ever, know
Of, the horrors, they have, known
And, if we think about it
It's probably best, that they aren't shown!

But, there is, always an end
To every, never-ending story
Although  sometimes, they’re never told
In, all their Truth and Glory.

So if you ask about it
And if you ever wonder why
They won’t talk of that nightmare
Maybe now, you might know, Why?

8-9-02

A TOUCH, IN THE WIND

It  was, a day for reflection
Starting, calm and so serene
Then,  wind from those "Towers"
Started blowing, in between.

The names of  Souls, spoken
Seemed, to alter nature’s course
And what it seemed to be
They came to say, "Goodbye!", in force.

Reaching out and touching
All, who came to grieve
To say, "Get on with your life.
Because, we have to leave."

"But, we won’t go far.
We’ll be in every breeze.
And, if you listen, you will hear us
Rustling through the leaves."

"And, when those leaves have fallen
And the winters winds blow
Don’t worry, we’ll still be there
In every whirling flake of snow."

"Then when, the springtime comes
And all things grow, anew
Please take joy, in knowing
We’ll still be there, with you."

"They may have stopped, our "being"
But, our Spirits, will soar
When you feel us in, the blowing winds
Where we’ll be, forever more."
  
9-12-02

OLD GLORY IN 2001

Those "STARS AND STRIPES" gained new meaning
In the year two thousand and one
It flew prouder over our Country
Where a new war had begun.

On September eleventh
"They" tried to bring it down
Along with those "Two Towers"
That came crashing to the ground.

But, the American people caught it
And held it high for all to see
This is still, "THE HOME OF THE BRAVE"
And, "THE LAND OF THE FREE".

Those people who do evil
Will shudder at the sight
As "OLD GLORY" catches them
In all it's power and might.

We might not always do justice
Under it's waving grace
But, it's meaning to Freedom
Will always stand it's place.

It's always been a symbol
And hope, for people in this world
It sends a very special message
Each time, it is unfurled.

The "STARS AND STRIPES" will wave
Those colors, "RED, WHITE, AND BLUE"
As long, as there are Freedom lovers
Or all life on Earth, is through.

 9-17-02 Constitution Day

I was honored to write this for Jan Hornung who was a female "Huey" pilot  for our country after receiving the following email from her.

"Thank you for sending your poetry. My latest book, "Angels in Vietnam," is recently published. I am now working on a collection of helicopter stories/poems. Please consider contributing if you'd like. thanks, Jan"     (visit Jan’s site (Jan has since, published a new book, "Spinning Tails", in which the following poem is included.)

AIRBORNE STAIRS

We flew upon those "wings"
Of that "whirlybird"
Up above the battles
Listening for that cracklin' word.

"Please come down and help us."
"Get us the hell oughta here!"
And we knew the urgency
And we felt, their fear.

We knew we were the answer
To all of their prayers
The only way they had out
Was up our "airborne stairs".

So we flew down in the "fire"
Into the brink of hell
To pick up those walking
Who carried those who fell.

They tried, not to leave behind
Their buddy and comrade
But. at times couldn't help it
And that was so damned sad.

The ones who shot at them
Were now aiming towards the sky
Trying to shoot us down
As we flew slowly by.

A lot of us made it
And a lot of us died
But, all of us answered the call
And every one of us tried.

We gave support and rescued
Those "grunts" down on the ground
We saved so many thousands
But sadly, some were never found.

We were those airborne jockeys
Who flew down through that flack
To try to pick our comrades up
And to try to bring them back.
  
9-20-02

  


A LITTLE LESS

ll, it’s been a year now
Since we had that nightmare
But, it seems like yesterday
With, all the pain still there.

Life for most goes on
But, for some, stands still
With that empty void inside
They try to find a way, to fill.

We can all reach out to them
And hold them in our heart
But we can’t mend the hurt
That, tears theirs, apart.

No matter how we try
And no matter what we say
There’s no way we can know
What they went through, that day.

It’s just one year of hurting
That will last their whole life through
Shared with all the teardrops
That were shed by me and you.

But, we must count our blessings
In this "land of the free"
Although there aren’t as many
As, there used to be.

9-8-02



 PRIVATE GALLERIES

Just think of all those images
Etched into every mind
Of every one who saw "it"
Each snapshot, one of a kind.

Each blink of the eye
Was another pic not seen
But, enough between the tears
Of, each horrific, scene.

Those pictures will always be
There, in our, minds eye
Locked in our private galleries
Until, the day, we die.

 9-8-02


   "LET'S ROLL"


They were on a flight
Going from here to there
Just another day
Each one, without a care.

Some were on a cell phone
With loved ones or business
What they all talked about
We can only guess.

Then they got the news
About WTC
And then they realized
The next one is "we".

Some of them were moved forward
The rest moved to the rear
And it’s hard to imagine
The helplessness and fear.

But, they must have got to talking
And figured out their plight
That in the list of "bombers"
They were, the next "flight".

Wonder what went through their minds
And how much, they were "scared"
But, when they thought, " The USA"
Realized, how much they cared.

We think about our "heroes"
And those on the "front line"
Then, we all heard, "Let's roll"
They knew, that it was time.

To step up and sacrifice
Whatever, it may take
And made the call, most of us
Won't ever have to make.

They stood up for America
Knew what they had to do
And let's not ever forget
They did it, for me and you.
  
Nobody will ever know
What went on, on that plane
We just know, it added to
The misery and pain.

We all had, had enough
On that September day
But, they just gave us more
To pray for, the same way.

They went down in Victory
The first against the terrorists
Showed the will of Americans
Is strong, and still exists.

Another bunch, of the lost souls
We lost on nine-eleven
But they aren't lost for they found
Their little niche in heaven.

8-20-02

FIVE MORE SIDES TO THE STORY

It seems the Towers and Flight 93
Dominate the headline news
But there were many others
Who were as painful to lose.

The men and women at the Pentagon
Who spend each and every day
Working to keep our world safe
And protect, "The American Way".

They could never have imagined
They were there, on the "front line"
In the battle to preserve the "Freedoms"
And the "Rights" of yours and mine.

In the midst of the "battle"
And beginning of the "war"
They stood, and faced the "enemy"
Did their "duty" and, so much more.

So many "heroes" in that building
That we will never, ever know
And so many acts of "bravery"
That the civil/military show.

We should all "salute" them
And bow our heads in prayer
To thank them for their sacrifice
To show them how much we care.

BUT, THEY NEVER CAME!

On September eleventh
We all know, New York City
Was shrouded in a cloud
Of, the worst atrocity.

They waited in their scrubs
In the emergency room
Waiting for survivors
To be brought out of the gloom.

They waited on the sidewalks
Stretchers/wheelchairs at hand
Prepared for a disaster
They had, rehearsed and planned.

But, the people never came
As they waited through the night
Then, they began to realize
That, something wasn’t right.

There should have been hundreds
Coming to them, needing care
And the hope started to fade away
As, they impatiently, waited there.

There were a few, brought in
And a few, came on their own
On this most horrific day
New York City’s ever known.

They waited for the people
As thousands called, with a name
Searching for their loved ones
And friends, who never came.

The adrenaline was flowing
As they stood their sad vigil
Wondering when, the rush would start
But, believing that, "It will!"

The day and night came and went
As their hope, began to wane
And their pent-up energy
Turned to helplessness and pain.

Doctors, nurses, technicians
And so many volunteers
Thought of those who never came
And began to shed their tears.

Some still, with a shred of hope
That, in the days to come
Those survivors might be found
At the least, maybe some.

But, the people never came
That, they were waiting for
Because, they waited up above
To get through Heavens’ door.

8-26-02

UNTIL THE END, MY FRIEND

I don’t ever think I’ve had
Unless with, Kennedy
Something move into my soul
And the heart, of me.

The pain I feel inside
For all the human race
Makes me feel ashamed inside
And, want to hide my face.

I know I’ve always known
How cruel, we all could be
But, in the past year
Saw, more, than, I should see.

Nobody deserves
The wrath of the hate
But, then I stop and think
I didn’t have to wait.

I’ve seen it all my life
But, didn’t care to look
Until, I started writing
To put it in a book.

A book, I shouldn’t written
For, the words hurt so deep
And the memories we know
Are very hard, to keep.

But, it will never change
Until, we’re no longer here
Because the human, is the death
Of, life, on Earth, I fear.

THEY'RE OUT!

Whether it is in the "first"
Or, at the bottom of "nine"
All "sports" are businesses
And only seek the "bottom line"

The fans and the tradition
Are "out" at the beginning
And as far as I'm concerned
They've played, their final inning.
Read by Anderson Cooper on CNN 8-25-02

TWO KINDS OF BLEEDING HEARTS
  
It’s a crazy, cruel world
With all these perverts in it
Arrested and let go
Even though it’s known, they did it.

So many technicalities
That can set the guilty free
With all those civil right "nuts"
Who don’t want a "registry".

We all believe, we all have rights
But, come on! Let’s get real!
We need a different way
Than to let them "cop a deal".

Those sexual predators
Should have, "one strike and you’re out!"
Because they are an "animal"
This world could do, without.

Think of all those children
Who might be alive today
Or, not ruined for a lifetime
In the place, they go, to pray.

With morals at an all-time low
I still think, we all agree
There’s no punishment too great
To give them, for that misery.

One more thing we have to do
Is watch out for one another
For, contrary to some thinking
WE ARE, the keeper of our "brother!

7-21-02

FOR RICHER OR FOR POORER

I don’t why we’re all surprised
When those corporations fall
When all those rich CEOs
Think of themselves, that’s all.

They never have enough
And think, they have to steal
From the ones who "bought it"
And, made those companies real.

Throughout the human’s being
The "bottom line" has never been
Honesty or morality
It’s, "Let’s screw them, again!"

The little guy will always pay
To make the greedy, more
We’ll pay the "toll" each time we pass
Through, that revolving door.

Even smaller company’s owners
Don’t care ‘bout, their employed
Even though, you’re the one
Who bought, the life they enjoyed.

Don’t ever think your job is safe
And, don’t think you found your place
For, with just a moments notice
You’ll be gone, without a trace.

Those in charge will soon forget
What, you did, yesterday
And there’s always someone waiting
To begin, on your last day.

So, why should we be surprised
When, the crooks walk off, "scot-free"
And the rich keep getting richer
From, the toil of you and me.

And those, we vote into office
Are just as guilty, as the rest
For, they let their "vote" be swayed
By those, who pay the best.

7-20-02

A DIFFERENT CALLING

This year the "Memorial" has changed
It's different than those past
A different kind of war
From a different, "stone cast".

The battle is at Freedom's doorstep
With heroes of a different kind
Now, all of us are "Soldiers"
Against, the terrorists "sick" mind.

Civilians have always been
A part of every war
But, in this day and age
We must do, so much more.

If we expect to win this Battle
We must all join hands
In a strong, determined circle
With, Freedom lovers from all lands.

This world has changed forever
"The American Way"
There's so much more at stake
Than, the way we live and play.

Since 9-11 we're learning
The horrors of this world
Can even come to where
Freedoms Flag is, unfurled.

This day was meant to Honor
All, Military Heroes have endured
Now, we all could join their Ranks
If our resolve, is not assured.

So, let us all take a moment
To respect all those, "Fallen"
And vow, we're all up to the task
Of this, different "Calling".  
  
JULY THE FOURTH, TWO THOUSAND TWO

I wonder what those folks would think
(Those, who wrote our Freedom’s Declaration)
Would they believe, those happenings
That have, forever changed our Nation.
  
Would they believe, some terrorists
Are, from our Country, homegrown
Spreading hate, death, and destruction
In the Homeland of their own.

Would they believe our "open door"
Has ushered in our enemy
Those who believe we’re evil
And don’t believe in Liberty.

What would they think, if they could see
Crime running rampant, in the street
Guns, drugs, and homeless people
And so many more, locked-in, retreat.

Would they believe, Freedoms treasured
Have been twisted all around
To where the criminals civil rights
Beat the victims, to the ground.

Would they believe, those voted to Office