What makes these words so distinct,
so special, so unique,
that they must be in quotes,
that each word, in their turn,
must be sworn to
the same exact words
Oh but the repetition, the fidelity, the power
our nation wrapped up in that ritual, that invoking
those words in quotes, binding each one together
to the history of the office, the legacy of the nation,
the push and pull of power, of law, to remain
beholden to the words, the principles, the law
For this is to be a nation, governed by the people,
embodied in the words of mettle, our lives together
measured, bound up, by that which is written down
preserved, honored, revered
repeating the same words, each time
word by precious word.
These are the words that matter,
that bind us, a nation of laws, not of tyrants,
the right of each one’s actions, empowered
the pledge, the oath, the promise
to those words in quotes
repeated by each person.
====
edited
January 18, 2016
The
Hills of Zion – v4
(editing
version 3)
Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day
edited
January 20, 2015
The
Hills of Zion – v3
(editing
version 1 again)
edited January 20, 2015
Is He Joshua – v3
(edited version 1 again)
edited
January 20, 2015
Lofty
Words – v3
(editing
original again)
edited January 20, 2015
understanding a moment –
v3
(editing version 1 again)
edited
January 20, 2015
Words
in Quotes – v3
(editing
version 1 again)
edited
January 20, 2015
Words
that Bind – v3
(editing
version 1 again)
edited
January 20, 2015
Words
chosen for a nation – v3
(editing
version 1 again)
&
January
21, 2013
The
Hills of Zion – v2
January 21, 2013
Is He Joshua – v2
January
21, 2013
Lofty
Words – v2
January 21, 2013
understanding a moment – v2
January
21, 2013
Words
in Quotes – v2
January
21, 2013
Words
that Bind – v2
January
21, 2013
Words
chosen for a nation – v2
Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day
and
his final speech before his assassination
and
Inauguration of the President
Barack
Hussein Obama
Invocation
by
Myrlie Evers-Williams
Inaugural
Address
&
several
poems written in 2009
on
the juxtaposition of the
80th
birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and
the inauguration of Barack Obama
as
President of the United States of America
January 17, 2009
understanding a moment
January
17, 2009
Words
in Quotes
January
17, 2009
Words
chosen for a nation
January
17, 2009
Words
that Bind
and
the Presidential Oath, from the
US
Constitution, Article I, Section 1, Clause 8,
repeated
verbatim by the presidents. The only language in quotes
in
the Constitution, unlike the general principles elsewhere.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully
execute the office of President of the United States,
and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and
defend
the Constitution of the United States."
January
18, 2009
Lofty
Words
January 18, 2009
Is He Joshua
January
18, 2009
The
Hills of Zion
&
the
message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on
the sign in front of church,
the
story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy
34:1-12
Joshua
1:1-9
along
with
Micah
4:1-4
Matthew
5:43-48
the
sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook
United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and
the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January
15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
All of my
poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,
2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for
usage. See all 40,720+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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