This is the poem I wrote and posted for the inauguration of President Obama. It is a hope, a message…a prayer that I have decided to humbly submit for each new president going forward; especially this one. It is a prayer that it seems to me, is most apt on this particular day of the transfer of power. It is my hope that this person, charged with the awesome responsibility of guiding our great nation going forward, might dig deep and shed the baggage of a lifetime. That he may rise above pride and pettiness and summon the best of what he is and of who we are and of who we all can be individually and as a people. A prayer that he might lead us into the future and that we all may be ever mindful of the good of all the people on this precious planet that we are rocketing through space on…together. I pray that he may guide us all to a place of peace, prosperity and security.
I humbly submit that rising above pride and pettiness applies equally to the opposition, both loyal and otherwise, as well as the supporters of this man. This is a time of hope or at least…it can be.
May civility, comity and trust live in the hearts and minds of all the people and may the least of us flourish.
Fasten your seat-belts because this train is leaving the station.

Sincerely yours as always,

Jefe

Inauguration (An Open Letter of Hope)

A cold clear day in January, dawns on mountains, plains and prairies
Birds take flight in estuaries, time moves on and never varies

A man reflects in circumspection, drawing strength from his election
Carefully chosen word selection, nuanced for correct inflection

Soldiers march expressionless, big brass bands; our nation’s best
A million eyes watch more or less, uncertain future, will to test

The speakers speak, the poets read, their words define our greatest needs
Vows are taken to our creed, an oath of purpose to succeed

We watch the streaming hourglass sands, as silence quiets all the bands
The sun then sets across the land, our destiny is in his hands

Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”

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