Tag Archives: National holidays

Fourth of July 2021––Wordle 508

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Fourth of July

The sky’s effervescent with bubbles of fire
rising ferociously higher and higher.
With a new surprise every minute or so,
where are the cowering animals to go?

The dogs bark their distress and squirrels in their trees
burrow down deeper into the debris
of nut shells and pine needles, avoiding the grief
of loud explosions, seeking relief.

Meanwhile, on the borders between land and skies,
children look on with wide saucer eyes,
waiting for each pyrotechnic surprise,
ooohing and ahhing as rockets arise.

The patterns they make as they rise ever higher
are finery formed from gunpowder and fire.
Their beauty paid for by distress to the ears,
first from the explosions and then from the cheers.

Forget the poor animals. Have your loud fun,
but my days of fireworks I fear are now done.
Snap me some photos and send me a card.—
I’m spending the Fourth right here in my backyard.

 

Wordle Prompt Words: fire, poor, surprise, rising, card, finery, sky, form, , effervescent, border, ferocious.

For theJuly 4, 2021 Wordle Prompt.

                                                     Deserving of a Holiday

If I were asked to pick one person to be commemorated on a day dedicated to him or her alone, I would ask to rotate the day between four people.

On the first year of the rotation, beginning with next year, 2016, the 400th year after his death, I would choose to celebrate the work of William Shakespeare.  Just as the other three honorees I will mention served to bring succor to our bodies and lives, William Shakespeare appealed so much to our hearts and intellects that he is still one of the most read and viewed writers and playwrights in the world, even 400 years after his death. According to Wikipedia, more than 410 feature-length film and TV versions of William Shakespeare’ s plays have been produced, making him the most filmed author ever in any language. Oh, that our blogs would be that inspired and live that long! For a brief biography of Shakespeare, go HERE.

On the second year of the rotation, I would choose Gandhi, for doing more to teach the concept and practice of passive resistance and non-violent protest than any other person that I know of. To see a fictionalized short of his accomplishments, go HERE.  To see a longer biography, go HERE.

On the third year of every rotation, for teaching us that is is possible to overcome disability, for the courage of Helen and the dedication and incredible teaching skills of Anne, I would choose Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan.  To see a short video describing how,  although deaf and blind, Helen was taught to communicate, go HERE.

Every fourth year I would choose to commemorate Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine.  Although countless others have contributed to medical research to combat disease, possibly no other virus has been as widespread and feared by parents as the polio virus.  In 1955, the announcement that the Salk vaccine was effective in combating the disease seemed a miracle and widespread inoculation of children began. For a short video on the disease and its cure, go HERE.

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Honorific.” If you could pick one person to be commemorated on a day dedicated to him/her alone, who would you choose?