America, God has shed His grace on you
And has crowned your good with brotherhood.
But the patriot’s dream turned into a nightmare
That sees life flee in fear,
Your alabaster cities drabbed,
Dimmed by sorrowful tears.
America! America!
God, forgive your violent bent,
Transform your soul from selfish prowl,
Your cynicism to sanity, your vanity to spirituality.
America! America!
Violence has become your way of life.
Death lurks stealthily nigh unbeknownst.
Thousands of innocent people killed,
So many of them young — taken from us.
America! America!
Unleashing an unimaginable bloodletting.
Innocent blood spilled, crying for justice
Against the one that murdered them,
But also crying for justice, America,
To take responsibility and find your way.
America! America!
To stop the madness engulfing us
Turn your attention to the prophet’s cry:
“If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, pray and seek
my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and will heal their land."
-
Author:
rrodriguez (
Offline) - Published: March 15th, 2018 12:22
- Comment from author about the poem: As I hear the constant news of the senseless killings and the ongoing debates about gun control, I think about the responsibility that we all as a nation bear. We may fight with each other about guns and the 2nd Amendment, but the fundamental issue is that we as a nation must take responsibility as well. God asked Cain where his brother was. Cain answered, "Am I my brother's keeper." God said, “Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground." Not only the perpetrator is guilty, but we as a nation must bear some responsibility. Our unrestrained thirst for violence is evident in the games, the movies, and the everyday life we live among each other. Civility has taken a back seat and unrestrained violence, the law of the stronger and violent is the norm. I authored this poem as an antithesis of the hymn America the Beautiful. America still has time to repent. To turn from its way and seek the face of God and be transformed "As Ronald Reagan emphasized, America is a shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere."
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 56
Offline)
Comments3
Thank goodness we have gun control here in the UK and gun crime is so low but we are not without violence. A cry from the heart so well expressed.
Thank you for reading. This poem is a cry for change.
A very good write and and expression of remorse about the violent culture that is not only in the US but also here in the UK and all over the world.
May the world live in peace soon.
It is an expression the strong desire for change in our country. Now the call goes to the world as you said. You are welcome to share it. Thank you for reading it and for commenting.
Yep - we are the trendsetters and need a sharp reckoning to set us straight........ if we can ever get rid of Trump perhaps the ship might right itself. The young people seem to be getting mighty mad so maybe there is hope there......
Reckoning is indeed what we need. Now we must get our country in the right track. Or should I say, the right relationship with God.
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