political banner, 19th century (Terrence J. Kennedy)‘Independence Day, 2025’: A Poem by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society July 4, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 15 Comments . Independence Day, 2025 It’s so much more than red and white and blue And stars that spangle banners flying high. It’s something strong and stark and deep and true. It burns with answers to the question why Souls ache to slip a granite-fisted grip. It’s something fierce that flickers far beyond The brutish bent of tyrants keen to whip The treasonous who break a fraying bond With kings who toy with trust and trample prayers. It’s something of the eagle—wild and bold— Soaring where no yellow toady dares On golden wings that blaze as they unfold. It’s something set to sail a savage sea With dreams that call the bravest to be free. . . Susan Jarvis Bryant is a poet originally from the U.K., now living on the Gulf Coast of Texas. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 15 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson July 4, 2025 Susan, what a great poem to begin Independence Day. Told with wonderful feeling and aplomb with powerful images and heartfelt sentiments! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson July 4, 2025 By the way, Susan, as you undoubtedly know, the American dream was initially fueled by British, Scottish, and Irish immigrants. Reply Cynthia L Erlandson July 4, 2025 Oh my goodness, thank you, Susan — this means even more coming from an England-born poet! I would love to hear you read it aloud. You’re a great poet and a great American patriot! Reply James Sale July 4, 2025 Yes, a wonderful poet Cynthia – but honestly? What would her sovereign, King George III make of this – and Kent (her home county and mine)? Sigh – yea, I’ve thought of emigrating to the USA myself … Reply Joseph S. Salemi July 4, 2025 There’s something about Kent — it produces great writers like Thomas Wyatt, Henry Wotton, John Whitworth, James Sale, and Susan Jarvis Bryant. James Sale July 5, 2025 Ha ha ha!!! Thanks Joe – much appreciated: your appreciation of Kent! Peter venable July 4, 2025 Excellent, as always. “Lift every heart to sing . . .” Reply Russel Winick July 4, 2025 Great message and imagery. A soaring Susan classic. Reply Mark Stellinga July 4, 2025 Susan, could there possibly be a ‘Francis Scott Key’ somewhere in your lineage? 🙂 Your powerful sonnet of American patriotism is a heartwarming tribute regardless of your heritage. Bless you – Reply M.D. Skeen July 4, 2025 Brings a patriotic tear to my eye. God bless America! Reply Brian Yapko July 4, 2025 Susan, this is a magnificently patriotic (and deceptively simple) poem to mark an Independence Day which makes many of us feel cautiously optimistic about the future. Only 14 lines but considerably deeper and more philosophical than “God Bless America.” Only you can tell us if this was a conscious choice, but I love the irony of using a British form (Shakespearian sonnet) as the vehicle for vaunting America’s freedom from the U.K. How interesting that you never once mention the words “America” or “USA.” We only get oblique flashes of images (the red and white and blue; the “spangle” in the banners) to confirm that this unspecific poem is in fact about America. I think the reason (correct me if I misread) is because this is not a poem about America so much as a poem about the promise of freedom which America invented. It’s that promise which is your subject. America is not the destination. It’s the best hope of reaching that destination. Your poem is rich with the poetic devices we’ve come to associate with much of your work, though it is ever-so-slightly subdued in their usage. You have written many poems where you weaponize alliteration – but not here. You simply use it and assonance etc. to emphasize the message and the music of the poem. There is no satire here, no scathing anger. It’s subtle, but I perceive this as something of a meditative poem in which your speaker tries to capture in words that elusive definition or recipe for what it means to search out and live in freedom. The “It’s” more than this, and more than that, and something of this and something of that really hits both the complexity of the subject as well as the complexity of your feelings. How do you explain to someone how much the promise of America means? How do you find the right image for something that, to your speaker, seems almost ineffable? I’m particularly moved by the fact that this poem – this ode in sonnet form to the American promise of freedom – has been written by a poet who has immigrated here and therefore knows and recognizes things that we who have always lived here take for granted. It is written by someone who has seen the alternatives and who knows what a loss of freedom truly means. To see America through your eyes is a privilege. I hope and pray this country can find its way back to soaring and that it can continue to be a beacon for your speaker’s dreams — and for all of us. I hope and pray that we can keep the promise to us and to the world that America has made. Reply Joseph S. Salemi July 4, 2025 “Souls ache to slip a granite-fisted grip”… What a great description of the essential American character! We don’t take orders from arrogant superiors who think that they “know best.” Reply Satyananda Sarangi July 5, 2025 Susan Ma’am, “granite-fisted grip”, “brutish bent of tyrants”, “toy with trust and trample prayers” and the alliteration in “something set to sail a savage sea” – powerful and penetrating. Greetings for the 4th of July! Reply Warren Bonham July 5, 2025 What a great poem! I was drawn to the last line that links bravery and freedom. I’m not sure that we can accurately be called the Home of the Brave these days, but freedom doesn’t come cheaply or easily. That’s a great reminder. Reply Adam Sedia July 5, 2025 This is a beautiful paean to what I think is the true spirit of America. You toss away all the tropes about alleged political freedom and get right down to the core of things: the adventurous, pioneering spirit that I think still distinguishes us. It’s especially interesting to read this as the perspective of one who adopted the US as her homeland. 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Roy Eugene Peterson July 4, 2025 Susan, what a great poem to begin Independence Day. Told with wonderful feeling and aplomb with powerful images and heartfelt sentiments! Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson July 4, 2025 By the way, Susan, as you undoubtedly know, the American dream was initially fueled by British, Scottish, and Irish immigrants. Reply
Cynthia L Erlandson July 4, 2025 Oh my goodness, thank you, Susan — this means even more coming from an England-born poet! I would love to hear you read it aloud. You’re a great poet and a great American patriot! Reply
James Sale July 4, 2025 Yes, a wonderful poet Cynthia – but honestly? What would her sovereign, King George III make of this – and Kent (her home county and mine)? Sigh – yea, I’ve thought of emigrating to the USA myself … Reply
Joseph S. Salemi July 4, 2025 There’s something about Kent — it produces great writers like Thomas Wyatt, Henry Wotton, John Whitworth, James Sale, and Susan Jarvis Bryant.
Mark Stellinga July 4, 2025 Susan, could there possibly be a ‘Francis Scott Key’ somewhere in your lineage? 🙂 Your powerful sonnet of American patriotism is a heartwarming tribute regardless of your heritage. Bless you – Reply
Brian Yapko July 4, 2025 Susan, this is a magnificently patriotic (and deceptively simple) poem to mark an Independence Day which makes many of us feel cautiously optimistic about the future. Only 14 lines but considerably deeper and more philosophical than “God Bless America.” Only you can tell us if this was a conscious choice, but I love the irony of using a British form (Shakespearian sonnet) as the vehicle for vaunting America’s freedom from the U.K. How interesting that you never once mention the words “America” or “USA.” We only get oblique flashes of images (the red and white and blue; the “spangle” in the banners) to confirm that this unspecific poem is in fact about America. I think the reason (correct me if I misread) is because this is not a poem about America so much as a poem about the promise of freedom which America invented. It’s that promise which is your subject. America is not the destination. It’s the best hope of reaching that destination. Your poem is rich with the poetic devices we’ve come to associate with much of your work, though it is ever-so-slightly subdued in their usage. You have written many poems where you weaponize alliteration – but not here. You simply use it and assonance etc. to emphasize the message and the music of the poem. There is no satire here, no scathing anger. It’s subtle, but I perceive this as something of a meditative poem in which your speaker tries to capture in words that elusive definition or recipe for what it means to search out and live in freedom. The “It’s” more than this, and more than that, and something of this and something of that really hits both the complexity of the subject as well as the complexity of your feelings. How do you explain to someone how much the promise of America means? How do you find the right image for something that, to your speaker, seems almost ineffable? I’m particularly moved by the fact that this poem – this ode in sonnet form to the American promise of freedom – has been written by a poet who has immigrated here and therefore knows and recognizes things that we who have always lived here take for granted. It is written by someone who has seen the alternatives and who knows what a loss of freedom truly means. To see America through your eyes is a privilege. I hope and pray this country can find its way back to soaring and that it can continue to be a beacon for your speaker’s dreams — and for all of us. I hope and pray that we can keep the promise to us and to the world that America has made. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi July 4, 2025 “Souls ache to slip a granite-fisted grip”… What a great description of the essential American character! We don’t take orders from arrogant superiors who think that they “know best.” Reply
Satyananda Sarangi July 5, 2025 Susan Ma’am, “granite-fisted grip”, “brutish bent of tyrants”, “toy with trust and trample prayers” and the alliteration in “something set to sail a savage sea” – powerful and penetrating. Greetings for the 4th of July! Reply
Warren Bonham July 5, 2025 What a great poem! I was drawn to the last line that links bravery and freedom. I’m not sure that we can accurately be called the Home of the Brave these days, but freedom doesn’t come cheaply or easily. That’s a great reminder. Reply
Adam Sedia July 5, 2025 This is a beautiful paean to what I think is the true spirit of America. You toss away all the tropes about alleged political freedom and get right down to the core of things: the adventurous, pioneering spirit that I think still distinguishes us. It’s especially interesting to read this as the perspective of one who adopted the US as her homeland. Reply
