Food for Thought on Independence Day

“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”
—George Washington, 1st POTUS

Hamburgs and hotdogs are great for summerlong barbecues. Here are poems about them with Independence Day views and a sonnet parody I wrote sung to the tune of You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog, a popular 1950’s song recorded by Big Mama Thornton and Elvis Presley.

You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hamburg

You ain’t nothin but a hamburg, frying all the time
you ain’t nothin but a hamburg, frying all the time
nothing but a hamburger sizzling in the fast food line.
Well, they said you were lowfat, that was just a lie
they said you was lowfat, that was just a pack of lies
wannabe lowfat get rid of them buns, shake and fries.
You ain’t nothin but a hamburg, frying all the time
you ain’t nothin but a hamburg just a frying all the time
nothin but a hamburger with a cheese slice on your mind.
You ain’t nothin but a hamburg, crying all the time
you ain’t nothin but a hamburg, just a crying all the time
little baby burger those onions got you cryin’ all the time.
You ain’t nothing but a hamburger, just a grilling all the time
flip it over quarter pounder there’s some hot dogs next in line.
 
“My favorite meat is a hotdog, by the way. That is my favorite meat. My second favorite meat is hamburger. And, everyone says, ‘Oh, don’t you prefer steak?’ It’s like, I know steaks are best, but I like hotdog best, and I like hamburger next best.”
—Mitt Romney, U.S. senator, Utah

A Hotdog Returns Dyspeptic Heartburn

They sold me, right after I cooked, because my smell
to them seemed piquant and delicious in the air
that aroma slowly wafting everywhere
with its warm succulent fragrance casting a spell
all around until no nose would have a nostril
that had not had its nasal passages stirred.
Then its neural receptors in the grey matter
sent everyone a most mouthwatering message
from me. Pile those hot dogs high on the platter.
But this boiled world is not my only visage.
Indeed one might say this Frankfurter sometimes frys
I should acknowledge my Viennese heritage
and love for my Italian and Polish sausage allies.
Perhaps, once, with sweet relish, I dreamed of mustard.
 
Here is some non-caloric brain food for thought: “If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to slaughter.”
—George Washington

Independence: Where Did it Send Us
“…the very essence of our interdependence is peace, love, discipline, and tolerance.”
—Slinger Francisco aka The Mighty Sparrow
 
Each 4th of July we celebrate independence, where did it send us
after the Revolutionary War into a terrible bloody tragic Civil War
then into two great World Wars with a great army to defend us
fighting against Japanese Imperialism, German Nazis and more.
 Independence sent us on one of the world’s great political journeys
towards freedom for all mankind from dictatorship and tyranny
it sent us U.S. citizens in that direction but dictators still abound
and tyrants (both petty and grandiose) still exist the world around.
 “What hath God wrought? ” used by S.F.B Morse, telegraph inventor
flash forward to the cyber highway with a tweeter leader at the center
our 45th president came into office through the electoral college we now
know about the U.S. Constitution he has a serious lack of knowledge.
 Legislative independence sends US Congress members and reporters
to examine the horror of children in detention on the Mexican border.
 
A final thought from our 16th POTUS, Abraham Lincoln: “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not themselves.”

“So I will say it with relish. Give me a hamburger but hold the lawsuit.”
—S.I. Hyakawa, (1906-1992) English professor, president of San Francisco State University, U.S. senator from California, 1977 to 1983