apologies to Emma Lazarus
Before the transition, from a natural thing
to a reality-based thing, as seen on TV,
America was home to the poor and tired,
to the homeless and tempest-tossed,
Made that way by ministers and kings,
of churches and states that translate
the voice of God into pomp and creeds,
with the young fed on hate and greed.
Eventually, the young grew restless,
went over seas, where we live among natives
whose sunburned brows we beat with cross and
sword, whose tongue we twisted to sound English.
Alas, we’re done, the new collossus crouches now,
tarnished, unflagged, our riches tattered rags.
–
Dave Read