Where is my america?
Where is my america?
the land of hopes and dreams.
where has it gone
o come back o come back
writes alan van fleet
a wwii vet from main street

Where is my america?
land of the brave
the free
the huddled masses
the subway trains
the elevator
and the skyscraper

where is my america?
Land where we are all free
to worship they way we choose
to eat what we want
and get as fat or as deprived
as we desire or not

Where is MY america?
where we were once free to think
and think what we wanted to
to follow the spinning wheel
of the ferris media blitz
to state my views and not
be in fear of arrest.

Where is my america?
it has always been there
liberty is a struggle
frought with potential for
laziness losing it

Where is my america?
land of dissent
land of outrage
land of peace
land of liberty
land of the hippy
land of punkrock
land of urban decay
and the nation of hip hop
jazz blues

coffee beer cigarettes
indoor plumbing
and trains that run on time
corruption at all levels
with a friendly wink
and a firm handshake
to make me sleep well

and rest
knowing that
my america
has always been there
will only always be there if we
let her;
nurture liberty
coax the logic

logic seems fading
empires' last light
sun sets on distant pacific islands
included
in
my america.
a state
a state of mind.

j challas 2.10.05
the year of the rooster
...hopefully a better one.