American Girl

Her optimism solid in her roots of red white and blue Gallant knight was coming in princely form any time now A waitress in every small town of America Grinned her grin, showing her cutesy petootsieness Her over polite ways parking a place until he arrived. Hold tight, America, keep those dreams. She filled those sugar shakers, and ketchup dispensers Waiting on families who came every Fourth of July When are you going to settle down? The daddy would ask. His wife would smile, pretending she liked her local family. She kept her dreams to herself figuring sharing would scare the prince. Many years later I go through these small towns See these women whose nights are filled with cats and romance novels Their princes, cowboys, and FBI agents are not coming. But who am I to discourage hope? Year after year I say nothing. Amazed at her optimism in the form of red white and blue. Watching her put out the bunting ever Fourth of July Hoping to attract her perfect dreamland prince or cowboy