America

The beautiful,

Broken promise.

Inscribed forever on

A plaque more cracked

Than the Bell:

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

The call goes unheeded,

Purposely ignored,

Rusting,

Mocking the very people it is meant to aid.

Lady Liberty lives a lie.

 

Chained to a pedestal, locked up,

Gawked at,

She had no choice

But to smile and act like nothing was wrong.

I don’t blame her.

Every woman in America has felt that way, like

A mustsee landmark, a destination,

A gift for

Man.

 

America is a man’s land, after all;

“All men* are created equal,” declared the slave-owning rapist.

*Immigrants, Natives, unarmed Black kids, disabled veterans not included.

The great great great grandsons of the founders carry on that legacy:

Frat boys, church shooters,

The alt-right.

Drunk on privilege and immunity,

They decide who’s free,

Who can marry.

This so-called land of the free, home of the brave where

Inalienable rights are alienated.