Samuel

America (March 2007 Edit)

America is a sixteen year old girl
living on the streets
because the constant hunger and abuse
are better than what she got at home
her father did to her
things too terrible for me to mention

And when the men down by the railroad tracks
hiked up her skirt
America went along with it
knowing from experience
that it would be easier to close her eyes and keep quiet
than to put up a fight

America is a Vietnam Vet
drinking malt liquor
from a brown paper bag
behind the convenience store
or wandering aimlessly through the darkened streets
hiding out in shadows or doorways
dreading sleep and nightmares
of that other stranger’s life he once lived

America is rows of people
pumping dollar after dollar
into video poker machines
itching for that big win
that never comes along

She is a young mother,
making up bedtime stories
to explain the gunshots and police sirens
to her four year old son

He is a young father
the last one in his office at two o’clock in the morning
crying over his desk
because he has just realized
that he is so busy working
he will not have time to see his daughter grow up

America is whole cities full of people
all going broke at once

America is rows and streets
miles of empty factories and warehouses
fallow, and beginning to rust

America is out riding the rails
looking for a better life somewhere

America is silently begging for mercy

America is 410 Billion dollars
countless soldiers
tanks, bombers,
aircraft carriers, missiles,
and high tech guidance systems
going off to fight against an enemy
who makes bombs
out of cleaning supplies
and blown tires

America would just as soon you not say anything about all this.

America doesn’t trust you for a second.

America can see through your little tricks.

Don’t tell America what to do.

America wants the easy answer,
she wants the 10 second cure,
she wants instant relief.

America is doing huge lines of coke in his penthouse apartment

America is sleeping with her therapist

America is on a raw food diet.

America wants to be a movie star

America is saving for a down payment

America is loaded to the gills
and looking for a party

And America is hiding it all behind a big smile
because America doesn’t want you to see her real face.

When America looks in the mirror,
he is charming, muscle-bound, intelligent.
When America is asked to explain herself
she is full of piety, and benevolence.

Well America,
I’m calling you out.

Don’t just sit there
wondering when I’m going to shut up,
look at yourself.

America, at your core
you are full of such beautiful dreams.
Your sweetness moves me to tears,
America, I love you deeply.

And I am just like you.
I am you, America,
full also of bad habits and dirty secrets.
I don’t like to think about it any more than you do,
but America, if we want to get anywhere
we’re going to have to see ourselves for what we really are.