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The Flag of
a New Nation
for Liz
Wouldn't it be great
if we could take the colors
of this $6.46 meal
pale green soup
yellow corn muffin
cream colored soy milk
rich brown lemon splash tea (iced)
and make a new flag
without those symbols of war
the reds, blues and stars
a nation which does not march
into wasting battle
we could buy billions of pencils
for scholars around the world
pay $6.00 fees for school uniforms
made of cotton—not Kevlar
We would appoint you
Chef-in-Chief
far more important than President
or Secretary of Defense
you would be able to feed the world
the most important thing
teaching everybody to read and write
poetry, stories and plays
about real things
the goodness of soup, the goodness of bread
not having to march in military parades
just parades of characters
from books
made with imagination
and papier-mache
wouldn't it be great
to see magnets
saying "Support Our Cooks"
instead of "Support Our Troops"?
If we hung around restaurants
and cafes
eating and sipping
instead of shooting
in Afghanistan and Iraq
or on those "War Breeders"
deadly computer games
that kill the minds
of the young
when they should be climbing ledges
along the shore of Owls Head
or looking for sea glass
on Dick's Beach
killing one man or woman
kills two souls
that of the victim
and that of the shooter
a very sad case
which I do not think was part of God's Plan
metal is for jewelry
and automobiles (bright yellow, of course)
not for bullets, planes and bombs
life could be so good
we have the resources
we have the talent
Why is the boat drifting so badly?
What is this desire for power?
Does it make one live longer?
I think not
It is much more pleasant
to sit in the Hardcover Cafe'
and hear confident voices
see interesting and attractive people
Why do the big shots
of Beijing, Washington, Delhi and Moscow
think evilly and harm people
you know, Liz
Jefferson would say we need a
revolution
but I think you have a better idea
no one could fire a gun
while eating your delicious soup
and corn muffins
casually sipping tea
if we could get the warriors of the world
in here, relaxing for a change
maybe we could make the world
safe for vichyssoise
all of us would feel better
read books outdoors
and put away guns forever!
Love, Kendall Merriam
June 2007
Dear Eddie and Staff of the Pepper Club,
I wrote this poem at the Hardcover Cafe at the Breakwater Bookland in Rockland
in June. I asked the Chef/Manager, Liz Gowell for some paper to write a
poem for her. As I was sitting down with my meal (described in the poem)
one of her co-workers brought over a sheaf of paper (five pages 8 1/2 x
11) and said "Compliments of the Chef."
As you know, I always try to fill all paper I get but I have large scrawly
handwriting so when I went home and typed it up it was just two pages. I
gave Liz, as my muse, the handwritten original, the typed original and five
copies to give away and told her she could make as many copies as she wanted.
(This also goes for you and your staff because it is a poem for all kitchen
workers and other human beings who favor life over death. And nothing is
more essential to life than food and drink.)
Just today a lady I have never met who works in Bath, Maine at a bookstore
(Bath Book Shop, 96 Front Street) which sells great books, including cookbooks
called and said the poem made her cry and she asked if she could read it
at her church. Of course she can and will—so maybe even though I do
not use a computer—the poem will get around. Just remember two things
from the poem—"SUPPORT OUR COOKS" and "MAKE THE WORLD SAFE FOR VICHYSSOISE".
Love to everybody,
Kendall M.
Kendall Merriam lives in Rockland, Maine with his
wife, Phyllis. If you wish to contact him, you can write him at 72 Mechanic
Street, Rockland, ME 04841-3514 or call him at 207-594-0947.
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Address:
Veterans For Peace
William Ladd Chapter
PO Box 274
Freeport, ME 04032-0274
e-mail:
boblezervfp@suscom-maine.net
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