America by lesley drucker

I was born in America
Where the ground is painted with gold and the people don’t have to do what they’re told,
And I was born in America where we are always delving into the esoterica
Of the laws that bind us and climb us and constantly remind us
That we still have to fight for our basic rights.
I was born in America
And my heart goes out to the actress who’s been abused and
The innocent who’s been accused
And the child waiting but never gets choosed,---
Or is it chosen?
But I don’t know yet,
For the grammar system that is called education
Spread wide across our nation
Still isn’t available to those who need it most
To those so far beyond the coast,
That they have no doctors who diagnose!

I was born in America,
Where the girls are pretty in every city and the boys are strong and work lifelong,
And I was born in America where we absorb so many stereotypes that we’ve become deaf,
And we’re not going colorblind, we’re growing paralyzed and how long will I have to wait for the Next MLK?
I was born in America,
A fresh, new way to be--
A life of opportunity--
A life where we all should be free.

I was born in America
Red, white, and blue,
Citizens tried and true,
Always waiting for something brand-new
Holding fast to ideals,
Trying to keep it all real,
But instead losing touch everyday,
People fitting more and more into their robot cliche,
And continuing to move back to the USA.