A MEMORIAL GROVE

In Sacramento
small saplings are taken
and planted
from our civil war days
when one brother
is committing Cain's deeds
by going his own way
slaying honorable Abel
supplanting a murderous sin
of hatred's cold stain
for the spring's garden's rain
sent onto Capitol Park
in a memento to pardon the fallen
for all our exalted comrades
in their straining labors
thundering the somber words
of Whitman's sweating ode
in neighbors disarmed for peace
as pollen poppies increase
in the sullen rain showers
we remember our covenant
from the park's red flowers
as the blood of our nation
amid hidden tears were shed
at Lincoln's famous
emancipation letter issued
in a lyrical proclamation
by America's favorite son
before his assassination
to ratify a better miracle
who represented us
in a pact of agreement
by an Illinois senator
who represented us
in the government
who spoke bravely in an oration
to sanctify our freedom's sake
in our consecration
from man's slavery
for forsaking love
yet asking to be
forgiving to one another
commenting on to be unafraid
but to have a sister and brother
to pass the torch of liberty's grade,
to another generation,
not yet since creation above us
gave us in loving King Jesus
in his reckoning
gave us a full pardon for all-
without any condemnation
as Lincoln forgiving us
in an irrational infighting time
by elucidating about the laws
which forced black citizens
to carry back breaking loads
he held out for the people's cause,
now we have a commemoration
allowing for our obligation
and bragging rights
to treat everyone with equality
by raising its transparent issue
for slavery is no human right
seeing in each other a grace
enlightened for democracy's face,
we now may praise
those living and dead
raising us up to be heard
on our annual memorial day
we magnify and chant as poets
from our coronation's quatrains
in wonders of added memory
from a city advising editorial
or ranting in halls of justice
which exhibits our fallen flag
to survive Abe Lincoln's words
in presenting our honor codes.