Spring on the Basin #photography
Tag: Washington D.C
Main Street USA #poem #VeteransDay
I went to Main Street today
some of the old buildings
from the past century were gone
newly painted signs marked the street
boys and girls jubilant cries
mothers and fathers
sang the same favorite song
as the veterans marched by
*
I went to Union Square today
they always did know about celebration
stars and stripes buntings fluttered
men hawked “freedoms” wares
traffic on Market Street was blocked
the air filled with anticipation
as we heard the drums coming toward us
horses carried their warriors proudly
*
I went to the “L” & “N” street of our Golden State today
the light posts bore bear and star stripped flags
the spacious Capitol’s lawns
were covered with colorful chairs
some had chosen a prize spot the night before
we would honor those who had served
arm and arm as comrades
our hails and shouts they deserve
*
I went to Pennsylvania Ave D.C. today
imagining heroes in full uniform array
proud of the country they had served
and what I saw brought a tear to my eye
a flyer promoting something in another language
hurried past from some weekend event
red white and blue errant candy wrappers blew
only ghosts of veterans showed up for parades of yesterday
****
It is a sad commentary when your nation’s leaders look the other way for an event / holiday that celebrates the men and women who have served and protected them. I planned for the first time to attend the big event in my Nation’s Capitol, but there will be no parade today in our nation’s capitol. Veterans like myself will obviously gather around monuments for a moment of silence. I will hum the “Star Spangled Banner” and perhaps “America” with camoflaged shadows too little recognized as heroes.
I salute you who have served : Army, Air Force, Marines, Coasties and a special thanks to the men and women of the Navy who have kept our seas and skies safer…
Each of you deserve a salute, smile and attaboy!
Lost Art #art #poetry #writingchallenge
It was lost
perhaps misplaced
for all of time
was it hidden under an Inca temple
had it ridden off on the back of a camel
clasped in the falcon’s talons
maybe it was just forgotten
taken so for granted
that it vanished
in the bright of day
while people looked on
and then it seeped into the sands
carried away by the waves
to a place of treasures
an island off in the haze
piled high with forgotten things
row your dingy to the shore
hear with your ears
tunes of the Sirens
composed over the ages
performed on stage and in pits
capture with your eyes
another chapter of existence
artifacts of every kind
words artfully written on parchment
each loop personal
paints mixed by hand
artfully and personally applied to canvas
telling a story
capturing existence
paper made from trees
mixed and slurried
beauty in blemish
inks carefully screened onto hand-woven silks
tapestries elegantly fashioned with swollen fingers
forms fashioned from marble
some frown at your discovery
some with a smile of recognition
welcoming you
for you friend might be the next artifact
******
All photographed art from National Museum of Art in Washington D.C. (Carpeaux, Rousseau, Rosenquist, Picasso, Duchamp, )
The writing prompt for this week’s DP challenge is Lost Art. What art do you think has been lost?
Other enjoyable writing reflections:
http://thinking-languages.com/2014/06/03/the-lost-art-of-the-encyclopaedia/
http://meaningfulmommy.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/listening-learning-from-our-elders-a-lost-art/
http://beautyalongtheroad.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/canyon-memories-the-lost-art-of-storytelling/
Monuments- photo challenge #poetry #photography #Washington
monumental
a nation looks up to great men
scores out failure
The weekly photo challenge is monument. Here are just a few representing the Washington D.C. basin.
The Day when it no longer mattered #poetry #DC
It had gone on for so long.
they had forgotten when and why
what had begun with a message
had all drowned and died
the monuments they say
were locked and chained
the ducks long gone
little they feared the rain
a city whose beauty
had once been so tall
putrid sod and dirt
now covered the Mall
men rise and men fall
history stands to repeat
foolishness’ remains undone
at crumbling feet
It had gone on for so long.
they had forgotten when and why
what had begun with a message
had sadly drowned and died
Photography: “A Mere Image (of Washington’s Monument)” and “Lincoln’s Boot” ©L. Moon 2013
Pick up a piece #911 #terrorism #tribute #memories
I stand with a lapel pin in my hand
it had stood proudly on a life swept away
A bar of medals lay on the ground
how many heroic deeds did you do?
“mama mama mama”
I heard the echo of a grease covered doll
“I missed my flight “
I heard through misty eyes
“Our copier broke down so I went to another cell”
“We should have been there with the dead” they chorused hand in hand
“What can we do for those who died in our place?”
the survivor’s guilt gnaws raw as each 911 looms
pick up a piece of 911 people
rally around the cause of freedom
look forward
do not let this happen to innocence again
photographs from stock photography and from http://highwindsroom.blogspot.com/2011/03/sometimes.html
This is just one piece written in tribute for 911 http://fragmentsof911.wordpress.com/
penned in moon dust 
http://maryjmelange.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/at-ease-soldier/
http://alienshores52.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/monument/
http://jampang.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/monument-jam-gadang-tugu-pancasila-fort-rotterdam/
http://mamacormier.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/weekly-photo-challenge-monument/
http://ensummerfield84.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/monument-of-the-first-arrival/
http://bellabelle1.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/weekly-photo-challenge-monument/
http://sreejithpnair.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/weekly-photo-challenge-monument-velankanni-curch/