Constitution Poem by Day Williams

"Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy? "
Benjamin Franklin: "A Republic, if you can keep it." (1787)


Constitution

When We the People formed this government,
We emphasized the people's right to rule,
Not Kings and Queens, with ways we could amend
The Constitution, the foundation, tool

In People's hands not to be lightly changed,
A tool requiring constant vigilance
To keep the Union and establish Justice,
Keep peace at home, provide for our defense,

Promote the common Welfare, and secure
Liberty's Blessings to ourselves and our
Posterity; and as no man is pure,
We formed three branches to check and balance power.

Stand for free speech, free press, the right to teach
Your child of lovingkindness and God's kingdom;
The right to use your guns, so Tyranny
Won't march you to a grave as a naked thing.

The power structure can't infringe on rights
Of people to petition Government
To redress grievances, or to assemble
Peaceably to declare their discontent.

You can't be forced to house a soldier, or,
If you are jailed, to pay excessive bail,
Or to relinquish worship of the Lord,
Or to lose work because you read in Braille.

Don't let the government inside your home
Unless police have warrants in their hands;
You need not testify against your own
Self; Government must pay to take your lands.

You have the right to have a lawyer plea
Your case, protect your rights, and keep you free;
You have the rights to jury trial and
To counsel even if you can't pay fees.

The warden cannot punish you with cruel,
Strange punishment-you're not his chump or fool,
And you retain your right to worship God
And freely speak, within a prison's rules.

The Feds must honor rights of fifty States
To legislate for citizens as they
Deem best, and people and the States retain
More rights than what the Bill of Rights contains.

The Government must honor equal rights
And Law's due process for the citizens,
And courts interpret laws with oversight,
Enforcing rights of women, children, and men.

Keep this Republic, which is based upon
The Holy Bible and the Constitution,
And disregard connivers, cranks and cons
Who peddle hollow claims of new solutions.

The Founders knew about deceitful hearts,
How men and women mean well but go wrong,
And they relied on people to give thanks,
Seek wisdom, and obey the Lord, who's strong.

~Day Williams