Letter to America - Marsha Johansen

[Larry Robinson]

Letter to America

America I still love you
in spite of the hateful rhetoric
that spews from every street corner
in each forgotten city
while millions lose jobs
they once thought were theirs
and mothers work a multitude of jobs
well into the night just to feed their starving children

America I still love you
while fires burn uncontrollably
taking away homes
from those too poor to replace them
scattered homeless now displaced when once
they drove shiny cars and wore gold chains
factory workers strung out on opioids 
tattered brains no longer care about
the America of long ago when our soldiers
came home from World War II and we
welcomed them with the GI bill, a new home
and jobs with pensions
what a comfortable life that used to be

America I still love you
while refugees grace our land who once
were welcomed with open arms
now they’re separated from their children
who then are locked in cages
and never seen again

America I’m getting frustrated
with promises of universal healthcare
while our environment rots at the core
and more of us are struck with cancer
each and every year

America I’m losing hope
in escaping gun violence
when so many are allowed to openly carry
their semi-automatics and shoot innocent
children or those practicing their religions
in church or synagogues
dying for what? to prove they’re some type of hero
on Social Media sites?
to give their families something to be proud of?

America I’m dying
because of poison air
filthy, lying politicians
not being able to leave my home
for fear of what’s around the corner
waiting to end my life 
forever

	- Marsha Johansen
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