Flying saucer fireworks
—Photo by Katy Brown
—Katy Brown, Davis
this jewel of July
this July of jewels
rubies under July sky
sky dyed red with anticipation
died with conflagration
perspiration of July nights
in the sky
in the jeweled red July sky
red with fireworks
and July fire
ruby July sky fire
bursting
bursting banging booming
red white blue
white blue red
red
red July sky jewels
bursting
in the July sky
Look! History becomes us!
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I HEAR AMERICA CALLING––
poets and story tellers come this way,
bring words to remember,
words of integrity and vision
to teach to our children.
I hear America calling—
all you who lead: councilors and
council members in your varied offices,
senators and representatives...
bring courage and wisdom to your work,
each of you standing like a rock
unmoved by bribery or coercion.
I hear America calling—
bring me your good works:
teachers, doctors, nurses, students, janitors,
lawyers, garbage collectors, artists,
mothers, fathers, children—work to right wrongs,
to keep the flame burning that held fast
in the hearts and minds of our forefathers.
I hear America calling—
come photographers, come writers,
come all with our gardener souls
that we, with opened eyes
might treasure this beautiful land:
the dark earth, the green forest,
the rivers and lakes,
the delta and headwaters,
glaciers and oceans,
the mountains and valleys
the deserts and fertile plains.
I hear America calling—
to all her immigrant children,
to all of us celebrating this day,
for once upon a time each family here
like our Pilgrim forefathers
was a newcomer to this our native land.
I hear America calling,
calling to you and to me.
—Allegra Silberstein, Davis
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Today's LittleNip:
Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.
—Albert Camus
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—Medusa
Amber waves of grain
—Photo by Katy Brown