"Liberty"
Justin Thomas Eggen
Liberty on a darkened path
With Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington in the past
Ideals, forethought, and freedom constrained
As we walk a tight rope of give and take
Our humble beginnings in ’76
To our notoriety and fame of death, destruction, and apparent insurrections
Politicians taking stances
Moving in circles, as they say, they advance us
Is this what was envisioned
When they declared Independence
And began this mission?
I doubt it.
Liberty highjacked to the highest bidder
Yet, we complain of the slightest errors
Gone are the notions of selflessness and sacrifice
Replaced by vanity, selfies, and wickedness
All magnified
By our want of affirmation
Our want for validation
Living justification for having no purpose other than
Perpetuating a life that’s masked
Polluted by false expressions that are really depression
Liberty is not impressed.
Liberty, tell us what needs to be done
Tell us, in time, we will rediscover the light
Tell us we aren’t headed toward expiration,
But toward a refresh
A reinvigorated nation that unites in common desperation
Liberty, cloak us in your cloth
Let us see we have mistreated you
Allow us to repent and welcome us back in
Liberty removed is much like torture,
For you are the one who will carry us forward.
Liberty, we need you now more than ever.
Liberty, afford us the life in which you accompany
For we have lost your embrace,
We have lost the meaning of Independence
Forgive our evils, forgive our mouths,
Liberty, you are the judge in our trials
We stand before you
Lost and feeble
Carry us on, carry us farther, carry us,
We The People
Justin Eggen is a father, award-winning poet, 2x combat veteran, student and a native to Palm Beach County FL, who served in the United States Marine Corps from 2008-2012 as a Combat Engineer with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.
Outside the Wire: A US Marine’s Collection of Combat Poems and Short Stories by Justin Eggen
The Art of Warrior Poetry by Justin Eggen
The Sun Rises in Helmand by Justin Eggen
From Now, Until Death…I Shall by Justin Eggen
War & Select Poems by Justin Eggen (from which the poem above is taken)
Adahy by Justin Eggen
Teufelhunden 1918 by Justin Eggen
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"Is this what was envisioned
When they declared Independence
And began this mission?"
I truly would love to sit with Washington and ask him this question.