the New World

which America?

will you ever read this?

which America?

will you even read this?

 

we have seen the darkest side of freedom

flags on staffs wielded as weapons

the misinterpretation of Gadsden

the Battle Flag of Northern Virginia

co-opted by a misinformed majority

a context to perpetuate points of view

that could be only be described as expiring.

 

who do you want to be, America?

what is American Exceptionalism?

is it a Department of Defense masquerading as a

unique entity, a projection of strength,

which actually  exists as a social works program.

( shhhh, don’t tell anyone….” )

how does your Socialism feel?

 

we have seen the Pettus Bridge

we have persevered beyond Mississippi,

when it was burning.

hearing fifteen year old girls in Arkansas

casually drop the N Word in private

to musicians from the North

who were making money in the South,

led us to leave town, and drive to the next gig

in Georgia.

 

we have seen America.

we have seen the darkest side of freedom.

 

it is a bomb perpetuated in Oklahoma City

it is a cult siege in Waco

it is a White Bronco heading slowly

down the freeway,

while helicopters hover in place.

we have seen Ferguson and Minneapolis,

Breonna Taylor’s killers

still walk among us.

 

we have seen America

lay waste to the thatch huts,

to the Baghdad  neighborhoods,

as clearly as we have seen

the tank brigades in the hedgerows

and landing craft on the beachhead.

 

we have seen the protests-

to dismantle Wall Street

to defund the Police

to dismantle The State

 

where is the future we all subscribe to?

 

it is

American Exceptionalism.

 

 

Exceptionalism requires a definition of Quality,

and Maintenance.

 

 

without maintenance, quality ceases to exist.

without maintenance, quality ceases to exist.

without maintenance, quality ceases to exist.

 

(thematic inspiration from Robert Pirsig)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Reader Comments

  1. Jedah Mayberry

    Troubled waters we are in. And so much we are learning about the people we know, people we sat shoulder-to-shoulder with since grade school. How did we come to see the world so differently?

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