America the Broken
“O beautiful for spacious skies”
yet marred by all it’s leaders lies.
See it’s “amber waves of grain”
beneath them hidden is a stain
I pause “For purple mountain majesties”
yet that’s not all that my heart sees
There “above the fruited plain”
Souls cry out for justice in their pain.
“America, America
God Shed his grace on thee”
His grace for all people,
not just those who are white like me
“Till souls wax fair as earth and air”
and there is justice everywhere
We can’t stay silent amidst despair
for many do not receive their equal share.
I pray for healing across your land
“And music hearted sea”
That differences can be embraced
so that your nation is truly free
“O beautiful for pilgrim feet”
where all are blessed with food to eat
“Whose stern impassioned stress”
leads to more instead of less
“A thoroughfare, for freedom beat”
where hearts and souls and all minds meet
“Across the wilderness” on city streets
determined to march to a different beat
“America, America
God mend thy every flaw
Confirm thy soul in self control
Thy liberty in law”
“O beautiful for heroes proved”
once on knees for those they loved
Now men who promised to serve and protect
Place a collective knee on a black man’s neck
So come together one and all
“In liberating strife”
Bring passion, signs, voices strong
no need for brick or knife
“Who more than self, their country loved
And mercy more than life”
will do their best to change the tides
and reduce their brother’s strife
“America, America
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
and every gain divine”
“Oh beautiful for patriot dream”
Yet many aren’t blessed it seems
Them “that sees beyond the years”
pray for days that bring joyful tears
“Thine alabaster cities gleam”
can embrace an ebony dream
Once “Undimmed by human tears”
we’ll be able to see beyond our fears.
“America, America
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good for brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.”
“America the Beautiful” is the Foundation of this piece. I was inspired by Daniel Turner’s Blog of the same name.
The sentiments of Katherine Lee Bate’s poem are Beautiful. Sadly not all of your nation’s people share in this dream. Abraham Lincoln in 1858 gave a speech about “A house Divided against itself cannot stand.” to 1000 Republican delegates. It would be wise to ponder these words that were originally spoken by Jesus.
http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/house.htm
Copyright © Richard Lamoureux | Year Posted 2020
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