I do not want the old America back.
I do not want the old America
where hate simmered
like a hissing tea kettle
ready to blast a whistle
strong enough to tear
a silent house apart.
I do not want the old America
where arrogance celebrated
the genocidal parade
against the indigenous people
from whom we stole this land.
I do not want the old America
where each new wave of immigrants
is viewed as a less than human infestation
to be eradicated.
I do not want the old America
where people climb and stand
upon the backs of others
for greedy profiteering.
I do not want the old America
who will not acknowledge
its past mistakes.
I do not want an arrogant America,
believing freedom and greatness
are measured by the damage
caused when the twins
of cruelty and brutality
are loosed upon the land.
I want an America
who can stand up strong enough
in the face of ignorance, prejudice, and greed
and in truthful wisdom say,
“We had moments of greatness.
Fleeting moments washed away
by fears of weakness and scarcity,
pointless, needless fears.
We will be great by being
the promise we were meant to be.”
This is the America I want to see.
