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| By Norman Rockwell |
It’s enough to walk the ground
and have someone to run to laughing—
until teachers in school and church and home
explain the yes’s and no’s and rituals of
belonging
and I make unconscious choices to conform.
I sing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and “O Say Can
You See?”
and learn they are of my country, free under
the flag I pledge to,
always standing and placing my right hand on my
heart. “O, Mine Eyes
Have Seen the Glory”—but swords and bombs and
guns and Fourth of July
fireworks make my soul jump back while friends laugh as if it is fun
fireworks make my soul jump back while friends laugh as if it is fun
to be surrounded by noise worse than thunder.
At 18, we graduate high school, vote and serve
in the military.
We legally use dangerous substances like
alcohol and cigarettes.
We have been driving and paying taxes for two
years—holding jobs
and making contributions to home, state and
country.
What is possible? Marriage and babies or college.
I take classes that unravel childhood indoctrination, and my eyes see
the gory pictures of Vietnam death and Southern
hangings. I learn “yes”
is a true citizen’s answer to “O
say can you speak?” and find voice to say
My Country, 'Tis for Thee we want liberty and
justice without violence—
'Tis for Thee we sing and insist on the glory of
equality,
on saving mountainsides and lives, on making the promised land
where freedom rings.
and for Day 6 of NaPoWriMo.
*Note: All April poem-a-day poems are rough drafts awaiting revision.
Copyright © 2016 Susan L. Chast
"Tis for Thee we want liberty and justice without violence—"...ah..we all want our land to be as simple as this yet the world still bleeds....very thoughtful lines Susan...
ReplyDeleteClasses that unravel childhood indoctrination... yup...so needed especially in today's media directed thinking.
ReplyDeleteWell it seems that a great deal of unravelling of indocrination needs
ReplyDeleteto take place.In particular with regard to the descendants of the slaves.
Far be it for me to criticise another's country negatively but when a black American stranger communicates to an Aussie of what is happening over there in the hope of my spreading the word....things must be seriously grim (for them!)
Evidently some are attempting to seek asylum in Canada as persecuted people and I do believe one has been successful.This is really a terrible terrible state of affairs.
Some of us are proud of our country yet others are proud to made a profit out of us and lead us down paths we didn't want to travel for we are expendable. Sadly we are no longer the heart of the country we were but a commodity to be traded. What an insightful poem this is Susan.
ReplyDeletei think that it is this diverseness, this varied mix of race, culture, religion and opinion that made the US great. though she has many flaws, most of the world still look upon her to lead.
ReplyDeleteFlaws indeed! But what country isn't flawed?
DeleteFreedom is a costly and fragile commodity in our present world.
ReplyDeleteWe can only learn the history we are given but we can choose to see the truth and sing for what we believe in - even within the boundaries of where we belong - which is what i sense here..a knowing and also a respect for your citizenship.. i think all children are inevitably indoctrinated in some way..even if they are stranded on a desert island there will eventually be 'rules' - I guess Piggy could tell us that
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely magnificent in its glory -
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
insist on the glory of equality,
ReplyDeleteon making the promised land
where freedom rings
Equality and freedom so yearned for but so elusive. It is expected to be the cravings of many for a long time to come.
Hank
Oh. My. Goodness. This is wonderful. It gathers steam and culminates in lines of absolute perfection. Yes, that is the kind of countries we want - everywhere.
ReplyDeleteWhew! This is powerful Susan, especially that last stanza. I wish it could be read by every American.
ReplyDeleteYes, we want liberty and justice without violence! A worthy goal for any country! May freedom ring!
ReplyDeleteThis self-discovery of whitewashed history seems to be a weirdly rite of passage as we grow up and expand beyond the typical American grammar school experience. A strong sense of patriotism combined by a sense of disgust after one learns how we got here. The beauty of being taught to critically think despite being expected to absorb what you are told. This is a great complement to that experiece, Susan.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, as is, Susan. Myself, I have experienced the prejudice that pasts as reality, in North American culture, and daily life, as a trans-person. May this dream be, but a stepping stone, for a greater truth, to emerge, as Dr. King's words become realty, for everyone.
ReplyDeleteNo violence... YES! Citizenship with responsibility and true participation in the democratic process, YES! I find it amazing that so many Americans do not vote in elections. How can they be responsible citizens then?
ReplyDelete