Poems for a 250th birthday

The request from the organizers of the Long Branch Poetry Festival this year was to consider presenting “historical, patriotic, non-political” materials for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The assignment proved more challenging than I expected. Following are the two new poems I wrote for the Fourth of July event.

Land of hopes

 

Long Branch NJ to Long Beach CA,

What a big beautiful country this USA.

Woody Guthrie sang it many years ago, 

This land is your land this land is my land,

… this land was made for you and me.

 

On huge transporters many arrived,

To this great land with many opportunities,

A true melting pot full of hope and ambition,

And the promise of freedom for us all,

Whether tired or poor or fleeing persecution.

 

Parents wanting better for their children,

Sacrificing for them to receive the education

And the skills they need to attain success

And happiness that was proving too elusive 

In the land of their own birth and youth.

 

New Americans assimilating with the old,

While adding their own flavors and sounds 

To the mosaic of this still young land,

And continuing to expand and redefine

Just what is the culture of the USA today.

 

That’s the past and present at 250 years.

But what of the next hundred or so years

For the future generations of Americans?

Are the best of times in this land behind us,

Is now what they’ll say is the good ol’ days?

 

America can continue to build its strength,

Greeting people with dreams and ambitions 

Who value our democracy and economy 

And contribute to the hope of better days

As this wonderful land continues to evolve.

 

Copyright 2026, Charles A. Bruns

 

Stamps

 

Only one country in all of the world

Could transport information of all kinds

Through its beautiful lands north to south,

East to west and up mountains down valleys

With these colorful images as the fare of passage

Since January twentieth two thousand twenty five A.D.:

 

Crab nebula, the horse, galaxy pair, sunflowers, 

Angel’s trumpets, winter landscapes, lowriders.

Luna moth, bald eagle, SpongeBob SquarePants, schooner,

U. S. flag, baby wild animals, goodnight moon, star cluster.

 

Vibrant leaves, the Appalachian Trail, American bison, dahlias, 

1794 compass rose, spiral galaxy, Route 66, American vistas.

 

Harriet Powers, Betty White, Muhammad Ali, 

Jimmy Carter, Elie Wiesel, Phillis Wheatley,

Ben Franklin, Barbara Bush, William F. Buckley, 

Allen Toussaint, and Bruce Lee.

 

Happy birthday, holiday cheer, 250 years of delivering, 

Colorado statehood, day at the beach, freshwater fishing, 

U.S. Army 250th, U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, postcrossing.

 

Treasures of the revolutionary era, 

Battlefields of the American revolution.

Powwows, summer sunset, North American soccer,

Boston stamp show, International peace, love forever.

 

And today, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence it is,

As depicted on the very latest stamp from the US Postal Service.

 

Copyright 2026, Charles A. Bruns

 

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

An hour’s drive from LAX Airport — depending on the notorious Los Angeles-area traffic, of course — in beautiful Simi Valley stands an interesting and nostalgic archive about the 40th president of the United States and the 1980s: the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. During a quiet weekday visit this past winter, my wife and I were very impressed with what we saw inside the building as well as outside on its grounds.

The exhibits on the life and times of Ronald Reagan are a reminder of a different time in U.S. politics, when government executives and legislators were civil and respectful to each other even when they disagreed on what was in our country’s best interests. It is also a reminder that it is possible for a person from humble origins to work hard and overcome adversity to become the leader of our country.

To baby boomers, the library and museum are a trip down memory lane to younger days, when life seemed simpler and more positive. Of course, as the exhibits illustrate, the reality is our world was as complicated and concerning in the ‘80s as it is today. Younger students of U.S. history will learn that many of the kinds of international and domestic challenges the Reagan presidency dealt with, e.g., the economy and terrorism, remain more than 35 years after he finished his second term.

Some southern Californians I met during the trip said they did not agree with Ronald Reagan’s politics, but all of them agreed his presidential library and museum are well done and worth visiting. I found it a very fitting tribute to an American I believe was the right person at the right time to lead our country and a fascinating look back at pivotal moments in U.S. and world history. And, it  stands on grounds with views of Simi Valley everyone will agree are beautiful.

New book, Shorts: Poems and Short Stories, receives great AI reviews

 

I was pleased by the wonderful reviews generated by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots when I asked them for a 250-word review of my latest book, Shorts: Poems and Short Stories, a few weeks after its November18 publication. Each of them responded very positively about my collection of poetry and prose. I'm also quite impressed by how aligned their views of my latest work are. It’s yet another indication of how quickly and how far AI has advanced since my first book was published four years ago. 

ChatGPT stated that Shorts: Poems and Short Stories, is “an inviting and heartfelt collection that captures the beauty, humor, complexity and contradictions of everyday American life … The poems are rich with place and memory … The short stories anchor the collection with narrative depth … Bruns writes with sincerity and accessibility … Shorts is a celebration of lived experience.” 

To read the full OpenAI ChatGPT review, click here. 

Gemini stated my latest book is “a compelling and diverse collection that deftly captures the pulse of American life through dual lenses: evocative poetry and insightful short fiction … a vibrant scrapbook of observations and reflections … Bruns’ writing is accessible yet poignant … a rewarding read for those who appreciate writing that finds the extraordinary in the everyday”

For the full Google Gemini review, click here.

According to Copilot, my new book is “a vivid tapestry of literary expression, weaving together poetry and short fiction with impressive skill and heart … The emotional range displayed—tenderness, humor, melancholy—makes Shorts an accessible and memorable read … a collection that invites readers to pause, ponder, and enjoy the artistry of well-crafted words.” 

The full Microsoft Copilot review can be read by clicking here.

Thank you, AI chatbots! For more information about Shorts: Poems and Short Stories, visit my author website at: https://charleslopezbruns.com/shorts-poems-and-short-stories/.

 

Italia: 10 days in the past and present

During a whirlwind trip through Italy that covered almost 1300 miles by bus and over 100,000 steps by foot, I gained a whole new appreciation for this ancient European land’s history and people. 

Highlights of the 10 days my wife, Noreen, and I spent  in Italy earlier this month — a trip that was cancelled in the spring of 2020 and we backed out of the following year because of the coronavirus pandemic — included:

 

Rome: 

• Approaching and stepping inside the ruins of the nearly 2000-year-old Coliseo and imagining it packed with over 50,000 people on a sunny autumn afternoon. 
• Looking out over the city from the top of the Castel Sant’Angelo. 
• Walking past the Palacio de Justica de Roma and over the bridge just across from it.
• Seeing the Templo de Adriano from the outside and being inside the Panteón.
• Walking down the Escaleras de la Plaza de Espana, across the Santa Inés en Agonia, and past the Trinita dei Monti. 
• Tossing a euro coin in the Fontana de Trevi, walking around Los Cuatros Rios and the Fontana del Moro.

Vatican: 

• I will never forget being inside the Sistine Chapel, which is a good thing since no photography of any kind was permitted; it was more like a Michelangelo frescoes art gallery than a place of worship.
• The Museo Vaticano hosted a spectacular collection of art. 
• Being inside the Basilica di San Pietro and outside in Saint Peter’s Square was very moving.

Montecatini: Dinner at a Tuscany vineyard and olive farm on a gorgeous autumn evening.

Florence: 

• Seeing Michelangelo’s huge David sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in this Renaissance city. 
• Botticelli’s Adoración de los Magos and El Nacimiento de Venus, Leonardo da Vinci’s Anunciacion, and other centuries old paintings at the Galeria Uffizi. 
• Admiring the exteriors of the Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore and Basilica di la Santa Croce. 
• The Palazzo Vecchio and Fuente de Neptuno.

Pisa: The Leaning Tower, of course!

Venice Island: 

• Riding slowly between old buildings and under footbridges in a traditional gondola on the canals during the early evening, of course!
• St. Mark’s Square and Basilica in the morning, afternoon, and night.
• Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.
• The highly skilled and fast-handed glass blower in the shop off Piazza San Marco. 

Burano: 

• Strolling the colorful streets and alleys of this charming Venetian island.
• Ferry ride past various active and inactive islands on the way to and from on a comfortable afternoon.

Assisi: 

• Saint Francis’ Basilica, with its Giotto frescoes, is a magnificently preserved place of worship despite earthquakes. 
• Saint Clare’s Church and Templo de Minerva.

Pompeii: 

• Walking the streets of this ancient Roman city buried by volcanic ashes from Mount Vesuvius for nearly 19 centuries and realizing, technology and sanitary advances aside, how little has changed in the way people co-exist in a community.
• The small fresco paintings of couples in the ancient brothel that were, well, unlike any we had seen in museums.

Naples: 

• Riding through the streets of the city, where I noticed more than one depiction of soccer legend Diego Maradona. 
• Overlooking the bay. 
• Imagining my wife’s Italian ancestors in this city and the mountains slightly east and south just a century ago. 

Capri:

• Approaching the island (albeit in wet fog) and riding a funicolare and van up the steep hill to our hotel overlooking the southern shore. 
• Villa San Michelle. 
• Scenic cruise on the clear blue sea around the island after the rain. 
• Beautiful views up the mountain from below and down the mountain from above.

Sorrento: 

• Bustling town across the bay from Capri with well-preserved buildings.
• Sitting in an outdoor cafe in a town plaza as dozens of ultras for the local third division soccer club stage a brief protest rally.

Also wonderful was the food we ate while in Italy, particularly various al dente pasta courses, breads, and desserts. This coffee snob was generally satisfied with what he drank, but had higher expectations.

On the downside, meals often felt rushed, perhaps because we were in a tour group. Taking in so much of Italy in a short time involved too fast a pace and was physically exhausting. In addition to waking up to an early alarm every morning, my wife and I were stressed by having caught colds during this trip. 

But I was grateful to have seen so much of this magnificent country in early autumn rather than summer, when crowds are bigger and temperatures higher. Indeed, it was great to have finally learned firsthand just what a wonderful place it is and has been for centuries.

To see the photos I posted on Instagram between October 18-22, after returning home from Italy, click on https://www.instagram.com/charleybruns. 

(above) St. Peter's Square

The warbler and the wasp

Singing its song while flying the skies,
The warbler happily looks at the world below.
Wings flapping morning, afternoon, and evening,
She glides low before landing to find her sustenance.

 

Buzzing a bit erratically above land,

The wasp darts menacingly around the area.

It manages to climb higher only when necessary,

He is seldom welcomed or greeted by anything he sees.

 

But coexist the warbler and the wasp manage to do,

Just like many of God’s creations on this earth of humans.

One can sing happily while the other goes buzzing hazardly,

Because it takes all kinds, sizes, shapes, to make this world spin.

 

And so it goes night after day, all year,

Come sunshine, heat, wind, rain, cold, snow.

As youth gives way to age, business to pleasure,

War to peace, dismay to hope, short stops, and all the way.

 

And then one night the warbler and the wasp meet,

Unplanned and to the detriment of all in that moment.

The warbler was gliding low as the wasp buzzed higher,

And both were startled and unable to avoid each other’s body.

 

There was no song for the warbler,

It was not sustenance to continue onward.

No buzzing for joy from the wounded wasp,

For it had encountered a mass much too large.

 

There was a short fall from the sky,

Straight to the cold and dark waters below.

With sounds on the way down swallowed quickly,

After a splash, some flapping, and sinking of their bodies.

 

As quickly as they met unwillingly,

Their rendezvous was forever all over.

After years of singing and buzzing separately,

It all ended for them in familiar skies and waters.

 

Other warblers and wasps will fly,

Few will ever have such a fateful night.

Their songs and buzzing will fill the skies,

With the grace of God all over this big world.

 

 

Copyright 2025, Charles A. Bruns