To Liberty

What is more American than the Statue of Liberty
the citadel of freedom?
When day is done, she isn’t.
In good times or bad
She welcomes
The poor the wretched refuse to our shores
the homeless tempest-tost
yearning to breathe free.

There was a time when freedom meant two things --
Freedom from and freedom to…
Freedom from despots and tyrants
And freedom to pursue dreams.
It had nothing to do with riches or
Learning how to bow down and kiss rings.
Or being quiet when self-serving ideologues
Were out and about stealing our rights and our dreams.

We are now entering a dark period
That portends days and months of reckoning
When billions and trillions of wealth will vanish
When throngs of Americans will cry out “Enough!”
And the nashing of teeth will be met by the fury of patriots
And blood will flow freely in the streets.

Although mocked and scorned by
Misguided thugs and those who have never felt
the sting of battle nor the agony of defeat
They will get their chance—up close and personal.
Our Lady will survive and the
dream will go on.
Only this time all will know her pain.