November

My old home town, 12 years old and playing in the hay preparing feed as I waited for sunrise, that fateful day The suns warm rays broke the dark crispness of my world Just as if windblown leafs, the rays of light began to whorl It nudged life, to wake from sleep, on this November day Then painted my world in colors, instead of moonlit gray Thankful to see the sun, tend animals, I didn’t disobey I cleaned up, caught the bus, to learn at school this day A simple, wonderful life, in a world that's about to change As we listened, we learned our ideas aren't so strange My teacher's and classes are great but, I must confess we'd see movies, even watch TV, but not to an excess After lunch I had history, maybe he had a movie to see But, in class he looked sad as I heard the intercom key "Our President has been shot, teachers turn on your TV" As we watched tears flowed, it wasn't a movie we'd see Learning of fear, uncertainty, hope and prayer I bereave That life is like a roller coaster, on this day, as we grieve My world and life changed this day, seeing life so brutal Was it pointless to live free, an effort seemingly so futile? I struggled with this many years, then in 1969, I choose It's better to die free, than live in fear of what you oppose A fragment of my life. Started writing this for Broken Wings contest but, I lost track of time