Happy are those
Who do not follow the advice of the wicked
Or take the path that sinners tread
Or sit in the seat of scoffers

In the beginning
I held high a palm
[Am I doing it right?
My arm is getting tired.]
In springtime cool weather

A proud child
Celebrating Palm Sunday

With others
I sang and swayed

Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

As we processed
Into church
Celebrating
Palm Sunday

Decades of life later
I held high a sign
[Hell no, we won’t go
Bring our boys home]
In springtime cool weather

An angry college student
Protesting war

With my friends
I sang and swayed

We shall not,
We shall not be moved

As we were
Carried off to jail
Protesting
War

Decades of life later
I held high a sign
[They called B.S.
We betta listen]
In springtime cool weather

A retired professor
Protesting gun violence

With thousands
I sang and swayed

We shall not,
We shall not be moved

As we moved ourselves
Marching for our lives
Protesting
Gun violence

One morning later
I held high a palm
[Jesus silent before Pilate
Emma silent before crowds]
In springtime cool weather

An uncertain Catholic
Celebrating Passion Sunday

With other worshippers
I sang and swayed

Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

As we processed
Into church
Celebrating
Passion Sunday

Signs raised in protest

Palms raised in hope

Echoes reverberate

Growing stronger

We shall not,
We shall not be moved
We shall not,
We shall not be moved
Like a tree planted by the waters

Which yield their fruit in its season
And their leaves do not wither

We shall not be moved

The wicked are not so
But are like chaff that the wind drives away…

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous
But the way of the wicked shall perish