american tune in poetry

Who am I
if I am a member of this racist homophobic misogynist nation?

Who are we
if enough of our fellow Americans
enough to voter suppress their way to victory
believe in this much raw hatred?

Are there really so many Americans
holed up in distant Christian farm houses
complacent in their distaste for the vibrancy of city
never exposed enough to the joyous fullness of humanity
to reject flat-out face-front hate?

Are there really so many “good” progressives
in ivory towers in the suburbs of those cities
who couldn’t see that hatred was worth
compromising just a little bit
to full-throatily oppose?

What value has
my individual will to love the entire human race
if I ride inside this frothing sea of rage?

I am an American
I guess
I suppose we’re gonna
find out what that really means.

Still, when I think of the road we’re traveling on
I wonder what went wrong
I can’t help it but wonder
what’s gone wrong.

I am American
I guess and
I’ll be here to see what happens next.
Maybe get run down trying to fix this mess.

Still tomorrow’s gonna be another working day
I guess I thought I would get some rest
God help me I hoped we could
get some rest.

Last updated November 10, 2016