Ray W. Sarlin

HOW CAN I KNOW LIBERTY?

One thought oft bothers me,
how can I know “Liberty”?

Is it luscious and tasty
like a ripe plum?
Or solid as a rock
what e’r may come?
Is it a color like red
or white or blue?
Or cheers very loud,
or a song or tattoo?
Has it stripes or stars
or some other shape?
Is it velvety smooth
or soft like crepe?

But perhaps it’s not
a person, place or thing
An emblem, flag, chant
or heroic song to sing.

As I ponder Liberty
it starts to dawn,
That I will only know it
after it has gone.