Tag Archives: America

Banner Mountain Girl # 73 the Baker Sonnet–Land That I Love

I love my country land because I’m free.
America, a land of which I’m proud.
I sing her praises in a voice that’s loud.
It is a land that fills my heart with praise.
My country is the only place for me.
My land is beautiful from sea to sea.
Among world maps she stands above the crowd.
She is the greatest in so many ways.
I pledge allegiance and respect her flag
and fly it high on dark or sunny days–
it must not touch the ground or even sag.
America, a land of which I’m proud.
To honor those who for my country died,
I stand, salute the stars and stripes with pride.

© Freeda Baker Nichols
Flag of the U.S.A.1098161_660780950601531_626397485_nEagle at Banner Mt.

 

 

 

Columbus Day

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I learned how to remember when Columbus discovered America by memorizing a poem, shared with us by our teacher.

fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue

This new kitty rescued from a maple tree one night has discovered how our flag swirls in the breeze.

Columbus Day–a holiday for many. A good day to recall how I learned to remember when and by whom America was discovered.

It is also a good day to write poetry.  Yet, I have no new poetry to share. But such as I have, I’ll share with you:

fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue

Did anyone else memorize this verse to help you remember this date and this discovery?

–Freeda Baker Nichols

 

 

A Good Time for U.S. Citizens to Register to Vote Is Now

I received a call today from a dear friend who lives far away. She’s a widow and I had not talked to her in a long time. She and her husband were our close friends many years ago when we were young and our husbands were serving in the U.S. Air Force.
During our conversation, she asked me if I still planned to vote for the candidate we’d discussed in an earlier telephone call.  I told her I was. She said she had been encouraged by two of her family members to vote for the same one. She admitted that she liked the other candidate. But she said she would probably vote her family’s choice and my choice–because of certain issues.
There’s no doubt that my friend is a registered voter and has been for a long time.

If you are a U.S. Citizen of voting age but for some reason, you’ve never registered to vote, now is a good time to register.  Become interested in the process that keeps our country strong. Register. Go to your polling place. Vote!
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— Freeda Baker Nichols
https://freedanichols.wordpress.com

Prayer for America

Flag of the U.S.A.When my country’s flag is flying
and I’m standing at attention,
far below its waving glory–
blue and white and red,  it’s waving
like it waved when Francis Scott Key
penned the Star Spangled Banner
–proud I am to be reciting
pledges to defend my country.
When and if the call comes for me,
will I sacrifice my freedom
for the freedom of all people?
Will I give my life for others?

Marines, airmen, sailors soldiers
in cold graves beneath white crosses,
traded lives for country, gave me
freedom now to live and worship.
How I love them how I thank them
for the blessings I now cherish,
given me because they died for
U.S.A., Beloved Country.
Help me live, teach me to fight for
duty, honor that they fought for.
Keep Old Glory up there waving,
high above my treasured Heartland,
U.S.A., Beloved Country.

© Freeda Baker Nichols

Eagle at Banner Mt.

Thanks, American Veterans

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I noticed him as he sat on the motorized shopping cart and guided a half-filled grocery cart firmly with his left hand. He turned into the isle by the diary products. He picked up a gallon of 1% Low Fat Milk. His cart already contained a case of Gatorade and a carton of Mountain Dew underneath the boxes of oatmeal, Oreo cookies, and a bag of Fuji apples. He also had bananas, grapes and a honeydew melon and tomatoes. There were frozen Stouffer’s TV dinners and several boxes of pot pies. He stopped briefly at the cigarette counter and went on without choosing any. Then he reached for a bottle of Aleve and a can of shaving cream. He passed by the meat bin, bought nothing there. He raised his eyes to look at me as he maneuvered past my overflowing cart. His eyes were pale gray, so washed out–there was hardly any sparkle to them. He wore a cap and his hair was neatly trimmed and short. Even now, he was a handsome man. He was a veteran. I know because he was shopping in a military commissary. It was the day after Memorial Day.

I wish I had at least said hello to him. I wish I had thanked him for serving our country.

© 2016 Freeda Baker Nichols

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America’s Story

Eagle at Banner Mt.Flag of the U.S.A.cropped-dsc_0436.jpg

America’s Story

Do you see upon the canvas
in that painting on the wall,
how our country won its freedom,
why our soldiers stand so tall?

Do you see the purple mountains
high above the golden grains
posing there in modest beauty,
background for the wind-swept plains?

Purple mountains in the distance,
rising high beyond the hills,
hiding dust of my ancestors
where the ancient river spills.

Eagles’ wings spread wide in splendor
blending with the twilight sky,
in this land where freedom’s arrow
silenced every battle cry.

In the distant purple mountains
ranging inland from the sea,
kinfolk battled one another
in the war that set men free.

On beaches claimed at Normandy
in the battle of the brave,
truly dedicated soldiers
fought with courage to their graves.

Others lived to tell the story
why America stands tall . . .
their account depicted boldly
in that painting on the wall.

Our flag raised on Iwo Jima
island in Pacific’s blue,
symbol that our battle ended
successfully in World War II.

North Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq
and the clouds of Desert Storm
bring back thoughts of Nagasaki,
and the dropping of The Bomb.

The message on the canvas
speaks in clear and native tongue–
and all who understand the language
are true daughters and true sons.

Purple mountains in the distance
standing tall in majesty–
a symbol that America
is still the land of liberty.

© 2015 Freeda Baker Nichols