Kenders' Musings

"Before the game is afoot, thou still let'st slip.”
Will be the hue and cry from e'ery leftist lip
They could not wait for election day
To enact their evil cheating way
Voter fraud The dish of the day
As liberty has faltered
They take up The battle cry
As supplications to God fly
Good patriots will walk the line
As liberty does falter
The cards are stacked against us lads
The battle's been foretold
We will see, with Gods pure grace
Many enemy dead and cold
And liberty wont falter
Within our breast pounds freedoms beat
Stronger than the demons heat
Ahead lie glorious timeless feats
As Liberty cannot falter
Never doubt your destiny
Nameless even tho you be
As the one to save our liberty
For Freedom shall not falter
Strike up the band, your courage beats
Within your hearts existence free
For those who fear us surely flee
Against the onslaught of Liberty
As they know we will not falter
Raise up the flag, the stars and stripes
Old Glory and the cross
We're here to wrest our Liberty
From those to whom life is dross
Any price we'll gladly pay
Any hardship night or day
The outcome's certain just one way
As Liberty won't falter
Scream your hatred, steal the vote
Upon a darkened wall is wrote
When freedom with a snarl woke
LIBERTY DID NOT FALTER
The battle was bloody and many died
Brought on by years of deceptions and lies
And in many graves brave men do lie
BUT LIBERTY DID NOT FALTER
And when we buried our honored dead
Built cairns on hallowed ground
Sometimes at night across the tombs
Came a hollow haunting sound
Bemoaning in the whispered breeze
Across the marker stones
Was one sure phrase to chill the spine
You never fought alone
We had your backs true patriots
From japan out to Gibraltar
Your served us well as soldiers should
So Freedom Didn't Falter.

You think you know me?
I'm an American
I bleed Red, White and Blue
It don't matter if my skin is black, white, yellow or brown
You think you know me?
I'm an American
I don't need your welfare
I can do it on my own like my forefathers
You think YOU know ME?
I'm an American
I am generous to my friends, and death to my enemies
YOU think YOU know ME???
I am an AMERICAN
Born in the fires of Revolution, I eat tyranny and bring Liberty
You THINK you know me...
I am an American
Your best friend, your worst enemy
You think I'm weak?
You think I'm done?
You think I've lost?
You think you've won?
Then you DON'T know me...
I AM AN AMERICAN!!!

He awoke before dawn as he usually did
But today wasn't just any day
He showered and shaved with shaky old hands
And went to the bed where it lay
A uniform worn by the passage of years
Slightly faded, lay in all its glory
The ribbons upon it were starting to fade
But to him it told quite a story
He was a kid in June '44
Storming a beach head in france
When the fighting was done he put down his gun
While a french girl taught him to dance
A few short years later he fought in the snow
And become one of the Chosin Few
He thinks on those days when the weather is cold
And winter is breaking anew
He fought them in Nam as the monsoons poured down
While the media at home slurred his name
Never doubting his mission he had no regrets
He retired without any shame
Today he will ride down the main street of town
As the folks on the sidewalk all cheer
Tomorrow they'll not recognize him at all
It happens like this every year
But he doesn't care he knows what he did
In all of those far away lands
And he smiles as he buttons his uniform up
With his heroic, shaky old hands

Along the sea sand lay a cottage
Built in grandeur in the days of yore
Once a stately manse of wealth
It's been beaten by the harsh sea shore
Once it shone as such a treasure
Time has torn the shine away
Now the treasure of the cottage
Sits safely in the walls these days
For within those tattered walls
So badly in need of painters aid
Sit rocking slowly, two old lovers
Their debt to men and God full paid
They raised good children, saved the country
Paid their taxes and their dues
She sits knitting in her rocker
He sits painting his own muse
They steal glances and caresses
Sweet nothings flit between their lips
His knee aches from cold in winter
She has trouble with her hips
Time is chasing these old lovers
Aches and pains they constant bear
She brings him coffee every morning
Every night he'd brush her hair
The kids come round at Christmas time
To offer seasons greeting up
In memory of long lost friends
A toast they offer in a cup
To better times when health we had
When clothing fit us like a glove
When Easter offered our salvation
And all we needed was our love
Someday soon the pair will pass
And in some, memories will fade
But God will not forget this couple
Nor the cottage of love they made
Love is timeless, manifested
In art, or cottages or lives
Few know love makes God smile
And causes angels wistful sighs
Love cures all, and love is power
Love can make you truly see
Even if it's only living
In an old worn cottage by the sea

The Gates Have Closed, your doom is sealed

in the edges of my mind
float words
I want to scream
at you
anchored
by rage,
confusion and
hatred

the vile lies you glibly spouted,
crocodile tears falling
from your quivering
lying
lips
you, the heartless harpy
of the trailer park

genetically destined to
choose poorly
to fail,
it's in your injun blood
your hedonistic blackened heart
will lead you places
which make that blackened heart
glow in shame

exposing the shallow life you lead
drop a stone down your bottomless heart
so you can hear the echoes
of failure
and the missing notes
of emotional connections
which haunt
your hollow heart

wallow in your never ending
spiral of destruction
which your goddess
has set you on
as she sits high
in her throne
maniacally laughing
at
your
doom....

As she salivates
at your death
proving once again
the path of least resistance
only leads to hell
on earth

in the edges of my mind
float words I want to scream
at you
anchored by rage,
confusion
and hatred

May a long life you lead
Bereft
May many years be yours
neurotic
May many moons shine down
Upon your upturned
tear stained cheeks
May clarity strike
in your final moments
Your mistakes laid bare
before God
AND
may Gods judgment
treat you
as you
have treated
so many others

in the edges of my mind float words I want to scream at you

I met an old man one day, sitting outside a tiny barbershop in a town not much bigger than a postage stamp and barely worth twice as much. He was escaping the brutal summer heat in the shade and smoking a hand rolled cigarette, watching the traffic, what there was of it, struggle past. I happened to be walking from the gas station to the general store to grab a cold soda, this town being too small to have yet received one of the convenience stores found in every other part of the world. I was just passing through. My AC had given out 50 miles back, I was hot, tired, thirsty and just needed gas so I could get to where I was going, which was, I thought at the time, important.

He squinted at me with his light blue eyes against the brightness of the July sky, tipped his hat and with a smile emerging from the wrinkles said "Howdy son, bit warm today aint it?" "Yessir it is" I replied while wiping the sweat rolling down my forehead. "Sit down a bit, if ya aint in a hurry. It feels good in the shade here when the breeze comes along." So I sat down next to the old man, remembering my grandmothers words about being kind to your elders, figuring I would hang around for a couple of minutes, exchange a few inanities about the weather and be on my self-important way.

A couple of minutes of silence followed, not really awkward, but more like he was thinking about what to say. Finally I said "nice lil town ya got here." "Yep" he muttered "but I remember when it was small and quiet." "Small?" I asked and he chuckled. "When I was a youngster, a little younger than you, this barber shop was the post office, the community center and the police station, that being on account of Harry, the barber, also being our duly elected sheriff. Of course, I don't think Harry ever arrested anyone in all the years he was sheriff." I nodded at the information, wondering what else to ask, finally settling on a question I was sure would make short work of this conversation that was taking my precious time. "So you've lived here all your life?" I asked, certain a simple "a-yep" would follow and I could excuse myself and go on my way.

"Pretty much" he said quietly, pausing for a moment and he looked over at me. "Pretty much. Course I did go off for double you double you two, was gone six years. When I come home the whole world had changed." I could hear in his voice a wistfulness and found myself asking "What changed?" as I realized I didn't have anywhere that important to be. "Lots" he said, "ya had to be there to understand it, I guess." "We left here boys off on a great adventure, and come home men praying we could forget the bad we saw."

His eyes took on a faraway look and I realized he wasn't looking into the distance, he was looking into the past. "We lost Albert, my cousin, and the Davis boys in France. Albert died on the beach, and the Davis boys, well, they almost made it to Germany. Charley Sassel, I heard, died in the battle of the bulge and Harry's oldest son, Harry Jr, died in Italy. I got shot 3 times, mostly they just winged me." His eyes refocused on the present, and me, as he said "but we knew why we were fighting."

His eyes squinted and he got a harder look, his jaw firming up and through lips growing taut with anger he growled "too many people today seem too willing to let it all go. Albert, Harry Jr., Charley....all them other boys buried all over the place, and you folks today don't seem to care." He turned his head away and spit, looking back toward me his words came at me like a machine gun "Ya think there aint evil in the world? That it's all just a matter of perspective? That maybe if ya play nice enough folks wont wanna kill ya? What if we'd had folks around like that back in dubya dubya two? Demanding we come home, that it wasn't worth fightin' for? We'd be speaking German and the world would be damned short of jews is what. What kind of idiot demands their military surrender the field and slink home a loser?"

When he quit talking I felt a shame growing in me. I had stood and protested against the war. I demanded our boys come home, never thinking about the fact that I was asking them to surrender their Honor along with the field of battle. Never once considering what it would have meant to those who came before, or to those who gave their lives in their belief that our Freedom is worth fighting for. Suddenly I heard a man shouting from the gas station and I realized he was shouting at me. "Is this your car?" he yelled, while pointing at my old beater parked at the gas pump. "Yeah" I yelled back. "Can ya move it?" he yelled, sounding more pleading than angry. Realizing I was taking up one of his gas pumps I yelled back a yeah and turned back to the old man. He was sitting staring off into the distance. "I'll be right back, gotta move my car." I muttered as I jumped up. His hand grabbed mine and the strength in those leathered old fingers surprised me as he looked up and said "Don't forget what I told ya son. Them boys didn't wanna die, but they knew they didn't wanna live if living meant they'd lose their freedom. I think too many of you young folks today have forgotten that." "Yessir" I said, the earnestness in my voice surprising me. "I'll be right back" I said, as I slipped his grasp and jogged over to move my car.

I wasn't gone two minutes, but when I got back the old man wasn't there. Knowing he couldn't' have made it to any of the other places in sight that fast I headed into the barber shop to continue our conversation. It was the quintessential old barber shop. It smelled of barbacide and cheap aftershave and was spotless. Old magazines were strewn across the small tables between the chairs that lined the wall and the barber was sitting in his only barber chair. The barber was an old man, almost as old as the fellow I was talking to outside, and he was engaged in a discussion about baseball with yet another old fellow. They looked up as I walked in and the barber smiled and stood up from the barber chair he was sitting in, asking "What'll it be young fellow?" in a cheery voice. I looked around and didn't see my companion from outside. "Did a guy just come in here from outside?" I asked in a mostly confused voice. "Uuummm, yep" replied the barber with a bit of confusion in his voice. "That'd be you" he stated more as a question than a fact. "No" I blurted out "I mean an old guy." The barber looked toward the other man, then back my way and slowly said "nope, you're the only one who's walked in all day, 'cept me and the sarge of course" as he nodded at the old man sitting across from the barber chair. Certain I missed the old guy as he walked away and wanting to continue the conversation I decided to go looking for him. There were only about 6 other places in this town he could have been, maybe at the convenience store I figured, so I said "uumm, ok then, never mind. You guys have a good day."

As I turned for the door I saw a picture high up on the wall. It caught my eye because it was the barber, the old guy he was arguing with and the fellow I was talking to outside and it couldn't have been more than a couple of years old, showing the three of them standing in front of the barber shop. I pointed to the picture and asked "Do you guys know that guy?" The barber looked at me with a wariness I knew well. It was the same look you give a panhandler as they lay their sob story on you. Disbelief mixed with scrutiny. "Yeah" he said slowly. Then with a tone that bordered on distrust he asked "Do YOU know him?' "I was just sitting outside talking to him. I want to talk to him some more. What he said really made me think." I said as I looked from one man to the other, their looks of confusion growing by the moment. Suddenly the old man stood up, much faster than I would have thought he could move and yelled, "I don't know what kind of joke you're playing son, and I know you look at me and see an old man, but by God I can still whup a youngster when they need it." By now his face was turning red and he took a step toward me "THAT" he yelled as he pointed at the picture "is John Singleton and he's been dead more'n a year and I should smack your mouth for playing such a stupid game. He was a hero to this country and a better man than you. Now get the hell outta here afore I whup you all the way up to Mable's honey stand."

"Whoa whoa whoa" I said as I backed up and placed my hands up in front of me. "I swear to you I was talking to him a few minutes ago. He-he told me about Harry Jr, and-and, ummm, the Davis boys and his cousin who died in France. I swear I'm not making this up." The old man backed away now, and the barber reached into a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of scotch, took a swig and passed it to the old man. The old man took a gulp and held out the scotch bottle to me and asked if I wanted a drink. Realizing what had just transpired I took the bottle with a trembling hand and had a good pull myself.

"John always was one for a joke" the barber said as he took the bottle and set it into the cabinet. I stared for a long moment at the old guys and muttered "have a good day guys" and walked slowly from the barber shop to my car. The drive home is still a blur in my mind, as I had a lot to think about and still to this day I am not sure if it really happened, or if it was a product of an overheated mind.

I no longer protest against the troops, for that is what I was doing I realized. I wasn't protesting the war...I was protesting the troops. I don't know why I was either. I'd like to think it was because I really didn't want my fellow citizens killed for what I considered a war for oil. In all honesty I think I may have been protesting simply because they were better men. Better men whose actions shone a light on my hollowness and fear. I know now that these better men have sacrificed so much so I could stand on a street corner and say what idiots they were.

Now I know who the real idiot was.

The tree lies in the grave shallow
Cars sun in the parking lot always
Burning never tanning
Open cans in my shoes dance
a cocaine induced ballet
Can the orange ride a bike
in blue jeans while singing?

Bleach stained dogs meow
At passing bums on trains
Of straw bales shivering
In the heat of summers juice
A flea screams rock and roll
In perfect pitch
With bombs over London
Playing the bagpipes
Can you hear Amazing Grace?

The grass on the roof
Needs mown sunday
Else church will let out early
The sheaves of winter
Hang heavy on ears
Of apple bunches in earnest
The days flow backwards
When the nights run marathons
Of drunken revelry
A DUI earns you an office
In Congress

Living underneath the Hollywood sign
Is as close to stardom as I'll ever find
For this old bum
But I don't mind
I had my 15 minutes of fame
When I saved that woman from the mugger
In the alley I was sleeping in
Back in '89
But I don't mind
Cuz I wake up every morning a free man
Able to come and go at will
In the City of Lost Hopes and Shattered Dreams
Living on a dime
But I dont mind
And while you fly by in your beemers
Or crawl by in traffic in your Hummers
Living your hurried life
Not seeing me or my kind
We don't mind
Cuz Freedom rides proud on our shoulder
Not tethered by the burdens of payments
Weighed down by the demands of bosses
Or harried by the ever present deadline
And we don't mind
So think about your shackles
Never mind our freedom
And throw away your pity
When you do notice us
When you're stuck on San Vicente Boulevard
Waiting for a light
If you don't mind
Because the only time we cross your thoughts
Is when you avoid us as you leave the store
Your cart over flowing
Your deadlines pressing
And your guilt fleeting
And maybe, just maybe
You toss us that dime
And we say God Bless You
Idly wondering
If God minds

It's the season where we try
And find the perfect little gift
To make our loved ones smile
Give their hearts a little lift
Jewelry, games and dolls galore
Knick knacks, doo dads and the like
A new train set, some roller skates
Don't forget the new red bike
Grandma gets some new plush slippers
Dad gets yet another tie
While we hurry to and fro
And never stop to wonder why
Why do we run so frantic
When the greatest gift of all
Was given to us long ago
When He was born within a stall
He came to do the laundry
Washed the sin right from your soul
Walked on water, healed the lepers
Fed the masses with a loaf
His life gives hope and promise
Of eternity unbound
Within His story all the lessons
Of Salvation can be found
So as you scurry quickly
In this season of the cold
I want you to remember
The Greatest Story Ever Told
No gift on Earth can equal
What the Lord above has done
He sent us our salvation
When He Sent His only Son

When the last flag is folded
The last soldier laid to rest
The final battle fought
And we've passed the final test
When the last poppy withers
In the grass of Flanders Field
When the last man surrenders
When the last soldier yields
When the wars have all ended
When peace reigns supreme
When the guns have fallen silent
When the world is serene
When we know of no more bloodshed
And we learn to live as one
Using words to settle things
Instead of using guns
We'll know we fought the good fight
Paid the price the piper said
Giving honor to our fallen
Singing songs about our dead
We'll build cairns to those old soldiers
Make their grave a hallowed ground
And swear we're done with fighting
When the last note sounds

The night grows cold as soldiers wait
For our charge will start at dawn
Only time will tell our fate
If we will die or live on
The horses stamp their feet upon
Frozen winter ground
Our general has brought us here
Where destiny is found
Our names they do not matter much
Nor the war in which we fight
The battle we are in is the same
By dawns cool early light
Through eras have we fought this war
With musket, sword and gun
We've died a warriors lonely death
Neath countless noonday suns
Our honor is for us alone
As our blood stains the earth
But we live on in stories told
Around a blazing hearth
So sing our song of battle lust
Speak well of our brave deeds
The tales of glory for our sons
Will plant the fertile seeds
To grow the noble patriots
So Freedom will not wane
So raise the lads to fight for us
Or we'll have died in vain

Soaring Heart

Like a hawk
On an updraft
Swift, rising
World opening
As a flower
On a summers morn
Does
My heart soar..
As cool water
Cascading
Riotous in the tumult
Of your absence
Serene in the gentleness
As you lay beside me
Does your love carve
Your name upon my heart
Deeper as it runs
Swift and true
Marking forever
The landscape of my soul
With you
And your love

We listen to folks
Say everyday
Don't worry about it
It'll be ok
As the bailouts fly
More money is spent
While regular folks
Barely make the rent
Fifty two million
Cast a vote
For a jug eared fool
Who's a shady joke
Now many of you
Have rightly concluded
The democrats
Are just deluded
You cannot fix
This mess of ours
Nationalizing banks
And makers of cars
We need some fiscal
Common sense
No more sitting
On the fence
It's time to tell
Those lazy jerks
Get off your ass
Get back to work
No one owes you
Nothing bub
But liberty
And here's the rub
The things you need
To live your life
A house, a car
A lovely wife
A job, some food
Healthcare too
To get these things
It's up to you
When these you get
From Uncle Sam
You steal our freedom
It's just a sham
The money I make
Should belong to me
To save or spend
It's mine you see
So take this warning
Heed it well
Your bailout plan
Was made in hell
Those who voted
For this thief
Will soon wake up
And learn of grief
When liberty's gone
And we're all slaves
We'll beg for death
And an early grave
So what will we give
For freedoms life
Are we willing
To sacrifice
Our fortunes, our honor
Even our lives
Knowing before
Great men did strive
And spill their blood
For liberty
How far will you go
I know for me
No cost too high
No price too steep
To live in freedom
And not as sheep
What price my friends
What will it be
To live as slaves
Not I says me
Rally up lads
The pipes are callin
And some of us
Will sure be fallin
But when we water
Libertys tree
With the blood of friend
And foe you see
She grows much larger
Her roots go deep
While 'neath her
Many brave men do sleep
We meet at dawn
The field to take
So find your heart
For Freedoms sake

The shot heard round the world
Led to freedom ringing clear
We've kept the fire burning bright
For two hundred plus years
Now the tide has turned agin us
Our freedom is being sold
Where is the courage we once had
The patriots so bold?
A once great country gasps her last
She withers in the field
While government as cancer grows
Lady Liberty does yield
So is this it? oh shall we quit?
Should freedom fade away?
Is this the final curtain call
Has freedom seen its day?
HELL NO I say as I rise up
My rifle in my hand
I'll not lose my liberty
I'll not lose my land
So stand with me brave patriots
Against the rushing tide
No longer shall we silent stand
No longer will we hide
No longer will their words hold sway
No longer will they steal
The freedom God has given us
No longer will we yield
We stand atop the parapets
Our trumpets blowing loud
To spread the truth of Freedoms Call
Throughout the gathering crowd
Grab your coat, pick up your gun
Take up the battle cry
Be ready for the coming war
And keep your powder dry

Kender MacGowan
3-18-2009

It's St. Pats day so have an ale
Or some Irish whiskey straight
And before the devil knows you're dead
May ye be at heavens gate
Drink up and sing of Danny Boy
And curse the English way
You'll never get no better folks
You're all Irish today

Tis a long way to tipperary
Or so the mintrel sings
Tis long way to ulster town
Lest you are blessed with wings
Tis a long way from birth to death
If a lucky clean life ya lead
Tis a long way from few to plenty
If ye dont plant the seed
Long travels I have roved thru lass
Long years upon the road
The longest trip a man can take
Is to a heart I'm told
But precious life has blessed to me
The knowledge of the heart
No matter the length of the road to your love
Its a short road to be apart
So tread softly and treat 'em right
Say nuthin to upset 'em
For if you anger a sweet colleen
You'll never get to wed 'em

The Christ was born this sacred day
Rejoice hallelujah
The bells ring out and angels wing
Rejoice hallelujah
The choirs voice of Seraphim
Rejoice hallelujah
Sing to His Glory the King of Kings
Rejoice hallelujah

and this one:

Untitled
Raise a glass my dear old friends
Raise a toast on high
For Our holy day is here at last
Christmas Day is nigh
The day of our own saviors birth
Redemptions promise born
Our lives are now made whole again
Our souls no longer torn
Everlasting life is ours
Birthed upon a cross
While in this life we may know death
It’s not the final loss
His life He gave so you may live
No greater love can be
Accept that love with open arms
And heaven you will see