POEM AND PHOTO BY ED NORTHEN
A celebration of redemption
from tyranny
from forces seeking to bend a people
to its will
celebrating the courage
the sacrifice
to break the shackles of rulers
and self-govern
with no guarantee of what would evolve
If successful in overthrowing the oppressor
to install
an untried governance
of the people
by the people
for the people
ideals
of a more perfect
not a perfect union
which we still seek
freedom
from the errors of our past
redemption
through acknowledgement
and righting wrongs
to pursue liberty
and justice for all
with a purpose to love our neighbor
as ourselves
to seek the betterment
of all who are persecuted and oppressed
by race, poverty, prejudice
to break
the flawed
and faulty paradigms
within each of us
liberating our souls