Happy Poetry Friday and Happy 4th!
I thought about family, as my family will be gathering this weekend, and it made me think of the song here, Family Affair. I’m sharing poems reflecting on the 4th, and the hearings unfolding…
WHAT WILL OUR SEVENTH MONTH BRING…
July, will you offer a bouquet of promising surprise…
Undertones of truth and justice brought before pubic’s eye
Litigation of lies weighed revealing soiled democracy
You, I, what about WE in this jolly, jitter-filled July?
© 2022 Michelle Kogan
draft
2022 4th OF JULY
How can we
celebrate
red, white, and blue
when Blue’s
spill blood
over abortion
rights removed.
How can we
celebrate
red, white, and blue
when rights
of red’s crush
right’s of blue’s.
How can we
celebrate
red, white, and blue
when democracy
no longer sings
we, but red’s
whose voice
dictates only their view.
Where are you
justice
in this
trampled,
torn flag,
of
red
white
and
blue?
Emerge,
breathe again,
like Phoenix
from it’s ashes—
Hold steady,
Rise again,
and SOAR.
© 2022 Michelle Kogan
draft
summer roses bloom
from hands careful care and
hearts commitment–VOTE!
© 2022 Michelle Kogan…
I voted in our Illinois Primary Elections last Sunday, and shared this image and haiku.
Janice Scully, at her blog Salt City Verse is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Janice! She has some fascinating insights from a backyard astronomer and a poem that grew from it, be sure to stop by.
Wishing all a safe and happy Holiday Weekend!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Ohh, you’re on fire! Keep writing those poems that pop with resonance. Love your patriotism in wanting better…or at least as good as life was before. Lots to do in the next few months before we all VOTE!
Your VOTE haiku is spot on, Michelle. Happy 4th to you and yours! 🙂
Every part touches my heart, Michelle. The paintings sadden but I feel the pain from these past weeks, especially this last one. We have to keep on, keep one and yes, VOTE! Also, help others voting! Thanks for this!
I feel you. Hard to celebrate much this year. We will be displaying our flag as a distress signal this year and will be purchasing a new State of Maryland flag to fly on all “patriotic” days until further notice.
I love all the assonance in your first poem, and in both, the way you raise the flag of WE over self-interested I. The only way to rescue our democracy is to somehow come together as humans and Americans. Somehow…
Red, white, and blue takes on new meaning in yur poem. So much to think about this July 4th. Thanks for sharing such powerful thoughts.
Yes, Michelle, here’s to “we” as a country and to VOTING, where we all come together to celebrate our democracy. There is power in all these poems and hope we might “rise again, and soar.”
So much to think on and inspire us, Michelle. THank you.
Such powerful poems you’ve written. I especially felt this stanza: “Where are you/justice/in this/ trampled,/torn flag,/of/red/white/and/blue?
You are writing with strong emotion, Michelle. Your heart is committed so keep on sharing your inspiration.