Read Poems by Janet Mcdermott

  

Below are poems written by poet Janet Mcdermott. Click the Next or Previous links below the poem to navigate between poems. Remember, Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth. Thank you.

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I, Too, Am An American

I, too, am an American

I am the child
whose broken family once relied upon government hand-outs to eat

I am the teenager
who lost my way and slept in a car in a park
until strangers in a position to help, did;
alternative school, my diploma,
a chance

I am the soldier
who served my country honorably
and battled sexual harassment;
a combat veteran would not be challenged for his abuse of a woman
who really had no business serving with men anyway 

I am the survivor 
who fought my way through
grotesque, waving signs and hateful condemnation
in order to face a desperate choice on the other side

I am the wife and mother
who never regretted a career placed on hold to care for my family.
I began to look at this world in a whole new way
through the eyes of my children

I am the citizen
who marched in the streets with thousands of kindred spirits
conveying a message to power:
we are united against the harming of people and our planet,
and we will resist every attempt to undermine liberty

I, too, am an American

Copyright © Janet Mcdermott | Year Posted 2017