My poem, America, America was originally published by Poets Responding to Senate Bill 1070 (AZ).
America, America
Playing in traffic
We gamble with
Our children’s future,
Our own already threatened.
We are adolescent
Thrill-seekers,
Sophomoric in our
Reasoning skills
Unwilling to admit
We might be wrong:
Wrong foreign policy,
Wrong economic policy,
Wrong social policy.
I tremble in the boots
By whose straps
I am supposed to pull myself up
I want off this
Carnival ride
But the crowds keep cheering it on and on,
Until all I can do is pray:
America, America
God spare us from tragedy
Bring home our troops
Bring back our jobs
Bring healthcare to our needy
America, America
God spare us from tragedy
And crown us again
With dignity
From sea to shining sea
America, America
Playing in traffic
We gamble with
Our children’s future,
Our own already threatened.
We are adolescent
Thrill-seekers,
Sophomoric in our
Reasoning skills
Unwilling to admit
We might be wrong:
Wrong foreign policy,
Wrong economic policy,
Wrong social policy.
I tremble in the boots
By whose straps
I am supposed to pull myself up
I want off this
Carnival ride
But the crowds keep cheering it on and on,
Until all I can do is pray:
America, America
God spare us from tragedy
Bring home our troops
Bring back our jobs
Bring healthcare to our needy
America, America
God spare us from tragedy
And crown us again
With dignity
From sea to shining sea
