New Patriotic Hymn

New Patriotic Hymn
© Surazeus
2017 10 03

Standing on busy street corner at noon,
David tunes guitar and strums vibrant chord,
then sings new patriotic hymn he wrote
while people toss coins in his upturned hat.

"I love this land we call America
where spirit of the corn maid Onatah
enchants our hearts with love for liberty
and equal rights in just democracy.
This whole continent of mountains and streams
encourages pursuit of noble dreams."

Crowd of people on their lunch hour applaud
while he plucks melody of ringing tones
that leap around the fountain sparkling bright
and scatter flower petals on the walk.

"The honest eagle of America
needs her left wing and her right wing to fly
straight between the mountain of tyranny
and the soul-twisting swamp of anarchy.
This whole continent of mountains and streams
nourishes success of communal teams."

Leaning backward, David plucks rapid riff
that zig-zags through the labyrinth of lies
and leads them laughing to the Promised Land
where they eat apples from the Tree of Truth.

"Come play in Garden of America
while Jesus searches for lost Ithaca
to kill intruders and win back his bride
while wearing jeweled crown that swells his pride.
This whole continent of mountains and streams
is passive stage for chess games of regimes."

Twanging last chord to end his playful song,
David raises both arms to empty sky
while audience of office workers cheers,
then all vanish in mirror of his eye.

"We live in haven of America,
heirs to philosophy of Attica,
enchanted by the forms that matter takes,
baking wheat and eggs in holiday cakes.
This whole continent of mountains and streams
disappears in the calculus of schemes."

Waking alone under the highway bridge,
David sips beer and listens to the cars
driving circles while they chase rainbow hopes
under the distant indifferent stars.