Praying for Peace by Ron DiCianni

This painting served as the inspiration for the Three Presidents poem.

Three Presidents
© 2005 Shabnam Chowdry

We’ve had three key Presidents
Who withstood some major storms
Although they were peaceful praying men of God
They had to summon their beloved nation to war

Washington was the founding father
A rebel with a cause

Often seen praying for his nation on his knees
Leading them to independence
Founding the greatest nation of all
He founded this nation for freedom of religion
Not freedom from religion

Lincoln was a man of integrity
Often called “honest Abe”

Upon witnessing an auction of slaves, he vowed by the grace of God
To make the ground of this country, too hot for the feet of slaves
His sense of justice and equality, took the nation into the Civil War
Resulting in freedom for slaves, and costing his life for the cause
But his words still ring true today:

“This nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom”

In the midst of our founding fathers
We have our President Bush of today
He prays in earnest for peace in the midst of these men of God
Who founded our great nation yesterday, in the midst of turmoil and wars

On his shoulders rest their hands of blessing and agreement
Go on son; preserve this “One nation under God”

9/11 forced this peaceful president to summon his nation to war
The storms and hatred of terrorism came to our shores
He had to send our loved ones off to fight the terrorism
On other shores to fight this global war

May God guide his hand
As He surely has his heart
May we all come together to pray for peace with these presidents
And once again truly become “One nation under God.”