It’s also Patriots’ Day — the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride — an event in American history that was drummed into the heads of every child in New England in the good old days . . . the days when love of country was celebrated and patriotism trumped tyranny, not the other way around. (Yes, that was a play on words — glad you noticed.)

We were made to read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem each year on the 18th of April to be sure we didn’t forget the origins of our hard-won freedoms . . . and I can still recite the first verse from memory.

But we are living in far different times, when expressions of patriotism have come to be considered trite, maudlin, unfashionable . . . and now, tragically, sometimes even dangerous.

But other types of poetry are still around, including haiku, which — while deceptively simple-looking — is devilishly tricky to accomplish. But, this being both National Haiku Poetry Day and Patriots’ Day, I thought I’d try my hand at it. I call this:

Haiku for Washington, D.C.

Cherry blossoms bloom,
New people in the White House.
Cancel spring this year.

I know, I know . . . haiku are supposed to be lovely and uplifting, celebrating the beauty of life and of nature. But it’s hard to see the beauty today through the cloud of doom hanging over everything.

And it just keeps getting harder.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
4/18/25