my American dream

schools, universities
and espresso stands

bars and jails
(with both good and bad)

churches and department stores,
hand-outs and fireworks

infinitely diverse ethnic cuisine,
beautiful primitive burger stands

vast legions of drug-dealers
of greatly varying professionalism,
lining up to defy the law,
for varying reasons

conservative farm families
and lawyers who dress like cowboys,
sturdy mehicano farm hands

upbeat radio songs
and anarchic psych wards,
countless psychiatrists' offices,
counselors too

vast open libraries,
museums everybody pays for
and nobody goes to

vast forests cut through
by sleek highways,
dismal cities and beautiful thriving deserts