American Eulogy

Spoken word poem of inspired the great writers and poets of the past.

American Eulogy 

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

"I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” James Baldwin- American writer and civil rights activist 

They'll come for me

Like...eventually 

They'll come for you 

It's not in your 

Best interest

To speak

Best be quiet 

Best be weak 

Keep singing your song

America the Beautiful 

Be dutiful 

To the lies we tell 

ourselves 

There are no hymns to be sung 

Or flags to be flung 

Against the branches where black men hung

Nor yellow ribbons 

Of hopeful return

By our hands as we watched

foreign nations burn

Why can't we rise 

towards our greater ascent 

Upon the wings of better angels 

From a Prophet's lament 

We segregated black America 

Interned Japanese America

Decimated Native America 

Caged Hispanic children like pets

Because we're told they're a threat

The price for freedom had been paid

In blood

but for who...

you?

No...

We no longer believe 

these truths to be self evident 

Nor relevant 

I love this land I live

With every breath I give

But I weep for her

This soul of a Nation 

Consumed by the flames

Of its own condemnation...

Author's Note

I will sit and wait for them to come. Because I'm one single voice. Does one voice have power? The past says yes, but it depends and relies on many factors. If that lone voice can inspire...movement. Like those voices that inspire me to my art. Maya Angelou's heart, Langston Hughes hope, and James Baldwin's defiance. They are there along with Poe, Neruda, Wiesel, and countless artists who I simply aspire to the grace of their artistry. Each one who started with a single word and building upon it. History is cyclical and affords us the profound opportunity to learn from the errors of our past and simply become better. I can not be silent because my heroes never were. I don't have the power of their voice, but I have their heart. As I believe all of us do. So I'll wait...

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

We did all these things which has made American not so beautiful now.
The majesty is tainted and I wonder if we will ever be able to retrieve it.
j.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you J for sharing your thoughts with me. What you've stated is a very powerful truth which cannot be denied. No matter how hard certain individuals in our educational system and government attempt to try and erase. These pillars of institution are being assaulted in ways seldom seen in our history as a nation. All under a false guise of reclamation. With a vast majority of our society being complicit. Education is more vital than ever under these untenable circumstances. Art has never been needed more than ever during these dark times. As my authors note stipulates the reasoning behind this particular poem there is also a particular quote that I read as a high-school freshman in my literature class. It is prescient as it is harrowing and is the reason why we should never remain silent. Here are the words that still haunt to this day: "“For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.” – Elie Wiesel. Thank you J for taking the time to read and share your valued thoughts with me. CLE

[MCS]

Silence fuels corruption. All people of good faith should be very vocal before it's too late. Excellent piece of writing my friend.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for the kind words of encouragement, my friend. Like the previous poem I felt an obligation to say something about the times we live in. How can I as a reader of incredible writers of the past not be moved to speak? Especially, with their words and ideologies implanted in my heart. Silence indeed fuels corruption and silence also is complicity. I know some may feel they are simply a single voice crying out to an endless void before them. That they lack influence to change anything. But to not try is is a lack of conviction to not only one's art but to those voices that have inspired us to write. Those heroes who were the voice of reason during trying times. None of the writers I mentioned in my authors note would want us to be lesser versions of themselves but greater versions of who we are individually. For in their eyes it's not about being the next Angelou, Hughes, Poe, or Baldwin, but being a better us. As the poet Auden wrote, "We must love one another, or die." What a beautiful message for a poem that is, and what is most needed in these dire of times. Thank you so much for for your thoughtful comment which means the world to me. CLE