July 1, 2018
Sunday lunch at Floyd’s
Happy family, we
Save for someone teething
A tentative smile had she
Flickering image above us
Caught her wary eye
A soccer match in Moscow
At least she didn’t cry
But then she did. I took her out
Under the porte-cochre’
A lovely bench to sit on
A summer breeze at play
She flexed her hands, examined her toes
Fuzzy head under my chin
She watched the people she watched the cars
Fly by on Interstate Ten
And then, my gracious! what wonder is this
Furling and snapping on high?
It’s a flag, my dear, so now I will sing
On this the first of July
I started the medley with Cohan
Then moved to Sousa, J.P.
Baby was the majorette
And the band? Grandmotherly me
Then back to Grand Old Flag
to the line I couldn’t recall
I didn’t ask the passersby
Since Baby cared not at all
So la la la at the gap in the song
It suited us perfectly fine
Then mama came out, I gave her the Child
Then went in search of the line
God bless our fractious nation
We might as well be teething
Perhaps if we join in a simple old song
We can stop yelling, and work toward believing:
You’re a grand old flag
You’re a high-flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave
You’re the emblem of
The land I love
The home of the free and the brave
Ev’ry heart beats true
Under red, white and blue
Where there’s never a boast or brag
But should old acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the grand old flag
Everlasting Arms 