America

(written for english, inspired by Allen Ginsberg and the Providence Journal)

America

America, where are we going?
Are you sure you don’t want a map?
Are you sure that you have a plan?
Oh, stay the course. Stay the course.

Perhaps it is “a time for ‘sacrifices’”
We’ve been left to our own devices for far too long,
Do you know all that’s been going on?

America, have you heard all the inconvenient truths?
There are horrible stories on the news
America, are they true?

In Massachusetts “private schools exempted in searches”
America, will you protect fourth amendment rights?
Are you going to stop “eco-terrorists”?
Are you going to spread democracy to the entire world?

America, you’re driving too fast!
We passed the speed limit miles ago,
It’s 65 and you’re going 180 miles per hour
On this two-lane highway
Would you please slow down?
Oh, “hope is not a strategy”

There’s a war on terror America,
Have you heard? About fighting terrorists and spreading democracy?
America you’re trying to create miracles, trying to be like a godsend.
Is the word godsend allowed in public schools?

America where’s respect?
Did I miss its funeral?
America, have you seen the debts?
The numbers are getting higher every second.
Is there anything you can do?

America, are we there yet?
Are we going to make it to the future?
America, can we get out of the past?
Can this war be different?

America I’ll try to stay with you,
But if you ever need a map,
Don’t be afraid to ask for a few directions.

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It was fun, and I like how my poem turned out. =]