U.S.A. becoming

a vast, high-powered empire
peopled by every race of the world...
the conformity restraints breaking

the world's largest economy
whirling, anarchy like a blender,
the "new deal" Gods sinking in flames
to be replaced by new creeds
unknown

Europe surpasses
in humanity and balance,
and for the moment in culture...
but in these indies
strange cultures multiply

Beneath the puritan veneer
and the politics of fear,
things are changing here

A black man stands
at the top of the land
and white majority rules
from a castle of sand

Our Hannibal has fallen
in full Islamic burial,
and Elliott Smith the genius musical
graced our shores
with his Mozartian miracle

Pot's legal in California
for those who pay the fee
and they're rounding up an army
to set weed culture free
to empower the masses artistically

And while primitives hold marches
to revere their sacred tea,
the young and the free
are cooking up
brilliant heresies

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Comments

Highhat | May 16, 2011 - 09:16

Another beautiful piece about USA Sean- really love reading these bits about your country.

;)Pia

maggyvaneijk | May 17, 2011 - 14:50

Very powerful, reminds me of Kushner's Angels In America. I referenced Elliot Smith in my latest poem as well :) Friggin love him.

seannelson | May 17, 2011 - 19:01

thank you both. M., I'm glad to hear you like Elliott Smith. I've become singularly captivated by his work in a way I never have by any other musician or poet.