Pride and Shame

18 Comments

Tags:
  • National Pride

    Pride and Shame

     

    How proud we are of these United States

    How high we hold her image

    The flag we cherish. Her open gates.

    A haven from hate and bondage. 

    This pride we feel was paid for in blood

    By those that came before

    We owe them a debt never to be repaid

    A sacrifice we cannot ignore.

    The United States a beacon of light 

    For all the world to view

    If the shadow we cast is any less

    We must pledge to begin anew

    Our pride has been challenged in the past

       Yes, shame has been our lot

    Fueled by unjust men who have been miscast

    As leaders they were not.

        So the time has come to reclaim the times

     When our hearts were filled with pride

    The clock is ticking, hear the distant chimes

    Add your voice to the rising tide.

     

    ©Copyright 2007 Charlie Gragg 

    Poem Comments

    (18)

    Please login or register

    You must be logged in or register a new account in order to
    leave comments/feedback and rate this poem.

    Login or Register

    mamasan commented on Pride and Shame

    11-23-2009

    Ah, it is so great to hear words that carry weight and fulfill our duty as citizens. Each citizen, Sr. Rosita advised, should always make use of there freedom rights and that means calling in and writing to let them know what you find amiss. Now, that was advice eons ago when I attended 6th grade. Its good your taking her advice even though you never met her. I am being facetious but I really mean it.....you are a bard who takes participating seriously. mamasan
    Reply to Comment

    Hampton

    11/23/2009

    We must lend our voice to all things good as well as shameful if we are to survive.

    Secretdreams commented on Pride and Shame

    09-27-2009

    I LOVE THIS ONE. I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!
    Reply to Comment

    Hampton

    09/27/2009

    One of my favorites as well. Thanks.

    Charlie23 commented on Pride and Shame

    08-14-2009

    Your so right that we are in debt to the fallen. Their sacrifice can not be in vain.
    Reply to Comment

    Hampton

    09/27/2009

    A belated thank you for reading and commenting

    Helios commented on Pride and Shame

    08-07-2009

    I am a Vietnamese-American who was very touched by your poem. I am endebted to this country for the ideas and freedom to persue my education. Thank-you again.
    Reply to Comment

    Hampton

    09/27/2009

    I'm a little late in my response but I thank you for your comments.

    GentleT commented on Pride and Shame

    07-14-2009

    Return from the dust Mr. Eagle scream and cry! I agree with you.
    Reply to Comment

    Hampton

    07/14/2009

    Thanks

    The true philosopher and the true poet are one, and a beauty, which is truth, and a truth, which is beauty, is the aim of both.

    Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet (1803-1882)

    Hampton’s Poems (111)

    Title Comments Submitted
    Title Comments Submitted
    Searching 5 03/20/2011
    The Poetess 14 02/01/2011
    Nonsense 12 01/25/2011
    Solitude 18 01/18/2011
    Lame Limericks 14 01/16/2011
    Message to Papa 15 01/15/2011
    Young Jimmy O’Fallon 11 01/08/2011
    The Computer From Hell 18 01/06/2011
    Life Ain’t for Sissies 16 01/01/2011
    The Mind In Motion 13 12/30/2010
    The Game of Poetry 9 12/23/2010
    Silence 55 12/17/2010
    WordSlinger 19 12/12/2010
    Holiday Thoughts 12 12/03/2010
    Sweet Mary 18 12/01/2010
    From White to Grey to Black 19 11/17/2010
    The Reckoning 12 11/14/2010
    And All of That Jazz 16 11/13/2010
    Today 25 11/01/2010
    No Offense, Just My Opinion 16 10/31/2010
    Lucky 10 10/27/2010
    You’re Only as Old as You Feel 13 10/23/2010
    Saturday Night 13 10/20/2010
    Political Change? 14 10/19/2010
    The Female Gender 17 10/15/2010
    I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? ( With Epilogue) 10 10/14/2010
    I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? 7 10/13/2010
    Remembering 11 09/22/2010
    This Web We Weave 13 09/19/2010
    The End 16 09/07/2010
    The Day the Clouds Cried 16 09/02/2010
    The Path of Life 12 08/27/2010
    My Mother Ruth 12 08/01/2010
    Forever–ast
    er    		 11 07/25/2010
    Humanities Challenge 14 07/24/2010
    A Cowboy's Perspective 12 07/23/2010
    July in Buda Texas 14 07/12/2010
    The OP Poets Parade 20 07/12/2010
    The Chatelaine 12 06/23/2010
    Shot Through the Heart 17 06/16/2010
    Poetry and Fine Wine 18 06/13/2010
    The Man What Am 10 06/09/2010
    The Final Beat of My Heart 16 06/05/2010
    The Rainbow of Poets 19 05/31/2010
    A Cowboy's Lament 13 05/14/2010
    Of This World I am Not 17 05/08/2010
    The Wee People 19 05/04/2010
    An Evening at an Irish Pub 15 04/20/2010
    The Scent of Love 14 04/18/2010
    Fresh News from Buda Texas 16 04/11/2010
    Memories of Times Past 13 04/11/2010
    The Dance of the Poets 20 04/03/2010
    The Confession 14 03/21/2010
    Road to Obscurity 18 03/20/2010
    Barbara 14 03/09/2010
    Shadows 15 02/28/2010
    Prescience 17 02/16/2010
    Words That Bind 54 01/29/2010
    Wondering 26 01/06/2010
    New Year News from Buda Texas 13 01/02/2010
    We Are All Witnesses 16 12/28/2009
    Christmas 25 12/14/2009
    A Cowboy’s Prayer 29 12/10/2009
    The 9 ers 24 12/01/2009
    Love Defined 27 11/30/2009
    Tis a Time to Give Thanks 21 11/23/2009
    More News From Buda Texas 26 11/18/2009
    Choices 26 11/15/2009
    News from Buda, Texas 21 11/10/2009
    In Search of God 21 11/09/2009
    Writers of Poems (WOPs) 26 11/04/2009
    Out of the Darkness 15 10/29/2009
    Visions from Within the Mist 18 10/20/2009
    Baseball 12 10/16/2009
    The Night Stalker 16 10/16/2009
    The Man I Presume to be Buck 16 10/12/2009
    The Sounds of Time 17 10/03/2009
    The Little Man in the Green Hat 18 10/02/2009
    Blah Blah Blah 14 09/27/2009
    One Two Three 13 09/22/2009
    Carpe Viam 11 09/16/2009
    Love in the Afternoon 13 09/11/2009
    The Moth 14 09/08/2009
    Lost & Dungeons of the Mind 11 08/31/2009
    The Creative Process 19 08/28/2009
    The Truth and the Tribe 19 08/23/2009
    The Long Wait. 19 08/19/2009
    Feathers 26 08/14/2009
    The Arrow 14 08/06/2009
    Take Two Cialis and Call Me in the Morning 26 10/30/2009
    Ghostly Images 16 07/25/2009
    Friends 11 07/21/2009
    Angels Without Wings 20 10/04/2009
    IN MY OWN WORDS 13 07/16/2009
    The Rider 16 07/08/2009
    Pride and Shame 18 07/02/2009
    The Winning Poet is.... 21 06/20/2009
    Memories 13 06/19/2009
    Politicians 67 10/05/2009
    Your Mailbox Is Empty 18 10/01/2009
    God's Visit 17 06/08/2009
    Poets and Poems 20 06/05/2009
    Love Thy Neighbor 13 06/03/2009
    Renewal 8 06/03/2009
    The Roar of Silence 17 06/01/2009
    Blessed Are These Days 4 06/01/2009
    Time and Space 5 05/27/2009
    Life's Journey 8 05/21/2009
    Gift To The Fallen 16 05/21/2009
    Hunger 21 05/18/2009
    The Antique Shop 30 05/13/2009
    Top of Page