MY FUCKED-UP AMERICA

You see, there's still something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my stating anything I think
but counsels against my blurting everything I feel.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my walking wherever I will
but counsels against my trampling wherever I am.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my being passionate in my dreams
but counsels against my being obsessive in my fears.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my choosing a particular way of life
but counsels against my disparaging another's peculiar lifestyle.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my loving anyone I choose
but counsels against my hating anyone I repudiate.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my exploiting every personal endeavor
but counsels against my entreating any single dishonor.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my patrolling my own neighborhood
but counsels against my monitoring my own neighbor.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my fighting zealously for a just cause
but counsels against my assailing belligerently just because.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my worshipping according to my belief
but counsels against my intolerance because of my skepticism.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my negotiating the terms of my profession
but counsels against my compromising the truth of my vocation.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my raising a family of ten
but counsels against my denying one child.

There's something about my fucked-up America
that suffers my collecting the wheat
but counsels against my discarding the chaff.

You see, there's something about my glorious America
that will see the future suffer its inclusion
only after the full redress and remittance of human dignity. 

Richard A Cummings
An American In Thought

R.A. Cummings (2008)
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