A Tiny Echo Of America Poem by Frank Bana

A Tiny Echo Of America



America, why do you lock up millions of your young for enjoying just a little weed?
America, is this what you really long for?
America, why do you force dying old people to live and suffer, distressing and bankrupting their families for want of a shot of euthanasia?
America, why do you load your eager young learners with debt-for-life administered by heartless profit corporations?
America, is this is the path to full employment?
America, why do you keep your working class just one moment away from the loss of income medical insurance and shelter?
Is this your way of earning confidence in your compassion?
America, why do you think it fine for pupils, schools to fail, side by side with those who are educated and educating for success?
Is this the one nation which your God must rule?
America, why are children who have rights so threatening, when your sacred documents written by ancient men say everyone is born with inalienable ones?
America I don't want to give you my daughters.
In fairness I do embrace your postage stamps proclaiming 'Equality. Forever'. A rare sighting of your gift for irony.
America, why based on ancient documents do you uphold the right of evil or deranged individuals to arm themselves to kill whomever they please with weapons of unprecedented destructive power and then demonize anyone who calls, hey, for just a little restriction?
America, is this is your hilarious version of the prisoners' dilemma. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.
America, you've been dreaming of black helicopters again.
America, why do you ignore and falsify and undermine with lies, the evidence of human discovery concerning climate instability and the evolution of our species?
One nation united under whom, America?
America, why do you have a creepy shining eye on your paper money? Why are there no sidewalks? Why are you allergic to trains?
America, why do your politicians obey their corporate underwriters before the public, their party, their leaders, their constituents and their human conscience?
And why do your corporations have the power to block, subvert and destroy any bit of legislation that is in the public good, example, access to generic drugs, example, protection of children from violent videos and soda machines in schools?
Are your all corporate leaders childless?
America. Let's not get started on your financial sector.
Why do you think you can invade foreign countries, America? Because you can? And torture prisoners held without trial? Oh. Because you can.
America, you are full of Christians who fear the Golden Rule.
Heaven is New Jersey, my friends. Kabul is but a dream.
America, why are your little ones raped by priests? Why do your priests not kneel to justice?
Really, America. You think you're the greatest. You're the Cassius Clay of nations.
America, when will you stop fighting the Civil War? When will democracy really come?
Do you remember how the West was won?
America, it's time for some more Amendments.
America, when will you learn the words to Blowin' in the Wind?
Why did Woody Guthrie die alone?
I don't want to die alone. Not with you.
America, why are all your Presidents male straight non-atheist?
America, what killed the Kennedys?
Why are your Kindles full of tears?
America, do you know this poem is a tiny echo of Allen Ginsberg?
Americans, why don't you know?
Americans, you all look like black people, poor people, Hispanics, homosexuals, Muslims, immigrants, cripples and Jews.
I'm sorry, Americans. You are only people. I believe in you. You'll work it through.

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