Body Politic (American Voices)

My post-election poem.

We said there was no shame in an education.
       And it matters.
We said we believe in aspiration.
       And it matters.
We said we can tell the difference between the petty
     ploy of a pretty face and a complete sentence.
       And it matters.
We said that deserving a job means
     more than it being ones turn.
       And it matters.
We said that what is done today
     is more important than the hearsay of last year.
       And it matters.
We said that history can find us but
     yesterdays chains need not bind us.
       And it matters.
We said being divided by debate
     is better than being united by fear.
       And it matters.
We said we were tired of the barbarians
     within our own gates.
       And it matters.
We said security means more
     than the waving of a gun.
       And it matters.
We said our heroes should fight battles
     alongside us, for us or against us.
       And it matters.
We said the walk from the back of a bus in 'Bama
     to a marble hall in D.C. may take more than 50 years
     but we can get there.
       And it matters.
We chose which American Dream we want to win.
       And it matters.
We said it will take every one of us.
       And it matters.
We said that maybe having a beer with the boss
     wasn't such a good idea after all
       And it matters.
We said not again.

We said we wanted change.
We said we wanted hope;
     that it matters.

Tomorrow there will be work to be done
     but today, America, we had our say.

Were you listening?

Reviews

[Amely]

I like the editing you did on this...structure : it matters.

[jaime]

ALLthat matters, of course it does. I'm glad it mattered enough to you...to write this. To make people think outside of their daily grind to see the big picture.

This one holds a special place with me.

[PianoandPage]

it does matter. definately. this poem has some great sentiments in it.

we really did vote for change, for hope, for a sense of dignity that has been pitifully lacking these last 8 years.

thanks for this tribute to our shared american dream.

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

A wonderfully written poem. One of my favorites. Thank you for sharing. Debileah