like so much else
we have in abundance––
we waste our democracy
punching each other
in the face
we’re no longer
inspired
by a more perfect
union––
we no longer sing
with a voice of The
People––
we have one
strongman voice.
who could
imagine that amerika
would have agents
stalking families
in the night––
that we immigrants
could possibly believe that
immigrants make us
less pure––
that a foreign enemy
could come to our shores
& help stir up our
crying-out-anger
to a boil?
we’re history’s
born-free-hypocrites––
why don’t we welcome the
broken & bleeding families
running to our sacred
fortress of freedom––
to keep their
loved ones
from harm––
to let them all
breathe free?
we who engage in
never-ending warfare
beyond our borders
to enrich our
wealthy?
we’re blessed
beyond imagining yet
somehow we’ve lost
our
humanity.
we strive to be
selfish
& we cling to the
poverty of our souls
with golden
delusions.
our children stopped
listening to their parents &
preachers
long ago––
now they’ve seen
their brothers &
sisters & teachers
torn by bullets
at their schools
as they wonder at
their nation’s manic
addiction to
guns.
the earth is over
heating & every day
we make fresh
enemies.
are we still a democracy of hope?
do we still remember
how to compromise?
how to smile?
how to laugh?
… together?
we have everything
we need
in the world––
& each other.
let’s help our children
take us by the hand
& lead us back
to our common
sense.