We are America.

American faces
millions of hues
shades of democracy
shades of hope

our dreams
and wishes
our collective voice
yearns to be heard
must be heard
and taken to heart.

We are America

too often we
have forgotten
ourselves
in dismissing our
brothers and sisters
as weak
or lazy

looking out for
number one
and in so doing
have undermined
all we
once held dear
all the while
seeming to
unravel

fighting
bickering
amongst ourselves
allowing
self imposed
divisions
to divide
us

Ghosts of
patriots
long dead
ancestors
honored
and revered
and ancestors
long forgotten
wail
cry out
for unity
justice
peace
liberty
mercy
dignity for those
at whom
we turn up our noses

we have forgotten
we are America

too easily forgotten
the single welfare mother
who could be my mother
or your mother
had circumstances
so wished
it to be so

she is your mother
your sister
your cousin
your wife
you?

serving self
has made us
fat
lazy
greedy
fearful
hateful
angry
self righteous
and
pretentious
hope fighters.

we have forgotten
where our salvation lies
where our freedoms lie
where our loyalties lie

we have forgotten
there is much work
to be done
hope can do much
but only so much

unity
and hard work
sweat
pride in
accomplishment
must pick up the
pieces
and be
hope's springboard.

Today
America sings
she speaks freely
again
for the gag
has been loosened.

the transformation begins
at the break of dawn
it begins here
in my heart
and in yours
it begins here
and grows
and flourishes
in us.

all of us.
we are
America.