America, the Beautiful?
America, the beautiful...
aimlessly just like a cloud
drifting free above the crowd
of cluttered chaos and bleak souls
of jungles thriving in hellholes.
America, whose freedom's praised...
floating over stained landmarks
(those abandoned, spotty marks),
where still we fight for equal rights
and others live barb wired lives
and yet most struggle to survive.
America, the patriot...
what constitutes right or wrong?
The status quo? Thick and strong,
that hides behind the weak and blind
and what I'll call BULLreaucracy
and manicured hypocrisy.
America, how's glory sung
when silenced by human tears,
their sufferance braved through years?
It's not starred banners waved in air,
but nooses hung with ropes threadbare!
America, you noble one...
to the world, your throne is might
proudly hailing in every light.
BUT crown your good? With brotherhood?
where discordance and hatred fall
with little mercy on us all?
America, triumphant one,
lead us to untrampled ground,
out of the past, homeward bound,
over ramparts and black hearts
beneath the shadow of His hand
and once again to your great land.
Copyright © Celeste Butler-Mendez | Year Posted 2008
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