Does it mean we barricade the door
and tremble waiting for disaster’s fall
hide, hurrying, weary somewhere down the hall?
Are we a band of brothers, sisters still or
are we spread beyond our will to
turn the tide of our own tyranny?
Where came our lack of feeling for other's fall
who have no names because the nightly Vision
has kept them from us all?
When did the downward spiral
of our dear Nation’s caring core begin,
or has there always been
some taint which hurls us there?
What keeps us from full potential,
forces pulling
only toward some Fashion’s goal?
Surely its not the one forged and tempered
by the blood and sacrifice
of those whose vision saw
and only knew that each alone had nothing
yet together
could withstand the strongest blast.
No blood was spared,
no matter who or what station.
common cause had banded them together.
Though only blood could claim an equal chance
To mingle freely without explanation or permit.
Now some tyranny within
may rend asunder all The gains
which generations now and gone,
have Freely given, willingly,
by our own History’s word.
Is this legacy now somewhere
in our shadow’s past?
With this loss
will come an emptiness of Purpose
leaving only an empty shell whose
still beating heart will lay ripped to shreds
by Indecision’s claws ,
backbone broken
by the club of Fear’s strong arm.
Are the cries which rallied patriots
round the place of History’s start
now the wails of mothers,
Fathers, and children who
Have had their lives torn apart?
Not by strangers from some far off place
but people, like ourselves, whose purpose
now is born of selfish greed
or some perception of a right
which others gained for them
through selfless sacrifice.
Words without deeds
now seem to be the mark
by which performance
gauged success, sell lies
to those whose laborless days
are filled by wishing,
not by honest Toil’s sweat.
"What Does It Mean To Be An American?"
