The Day of Firsts #poetry #history #dayininfamy

There was a day when I took my first step and I felt so proud and all grown up

I wasn’t looking to the left or to the right and when my bike crashed my face was a fright

That was way back when the sky was blue and babies had daddies who were honest and true

Cars had four on the floor and power to spare and they drove about with little a car

There was one McDonalds for miles around and the only thing they made were burgers a pound

Grandma’s cooking was better, everything made from scratch and the door was never closed certainly never latched

I remember first day my shoes white polished and prayer in school had yet to be abolished

We stood in a line straight and true and pledged allegiance to our country’s red white and blue

Our teachers were kind-hearted they knew every child and when we were misbehaving they never got too riled

We valued telling the truth, doing our best and we always were rewarded by a choice from a treasure chest

But that was back so long ago when the sky was blue and founding fathers were still being true

I giggle now at the girls and our thoughts the first real dance and the nice boys we sought

Plastered down and slick was their hair with a crisp dance card we filled with so much care

The jitter- bug was the real true test and we watched for the couple who danced the very best

It is true those days are over now crumpled, dog- eared and buried some how

But I remember the telling of the first pair of jeans my dad never washed tho they couldn’t stay clean

my grandpa polished daily his first Chevrolet and at eighty he remembered the glories of those days

At six or seven we wide eyed held our breath as the first moon men for humanity took a step

We dreamed and we talked of fast rocket ships of Buck Rogers future galaxy trips

mom and dad would never grow old because science would do something to cure the cold

It is sad those first days are over now and we fly in tin cans that crash but I don’t know how

The breeze still whispers of tyranny’s step but how could they remake it so soon to forget

The chants have broken through it’dark once again and people are remiss to turn from their sins

What glass will be shattered what lives will be lost has the world forgotten the astonishing cost?

But I guess they don’t remember like some of us do the way grandma scrimped and saved for me and for you

She barred the windows offered safety from within  silently they waited praying against “The Bitter End”

She looked with her eyes to the heart of a man and she taught me to love no matter if it was banned

“Stay true to what I taught you though it may go out of style but child God is watching and will carry us the last mile”

For those who went before me I still remember the cost and names forever sunken in Pearl Harbor dearly lost

Today I hitch my arthritis and I carry my grey head I pledge my allegiance to ideals not yet dead

 

This poem is shared with Poets United “The Day of Infamy” which we remember on December 7th.  Are we bound to repeat rather than learn from History?

 

 

“No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph — so help us God.”

part of FDR’s speech – he was President once. http://history1900s.about.com/od/franklindroosevelt/a/Day-Of-Infamy-Speech.htm