The Fourth of July in New York
It was the fourth of july in new york
and the sun was high in the sky above the east river
in the daylight of my life
I was 20 and had never loved America
at least not for a very long time
but wore an American flag halter top under my overalls
because I knew my good fortune
mingling with the monoliths
and making conversation with history
My boyfriend asked about the buildings that formed the teeth of the jagged skyline
because he knew I had spent hours on Wikipedia
and fashioned myself an expert
I was 20 and beaming into the glistening water
waving to the people on the passing boats
and celebrating a country that did not celebrate its people
a country whose voice could be heard most loudly
in the hateful and broken shouting
of those who claimed to love freedom
but had always loved themselves more
I was 20 and had been born into a post-9/11 world
the city’s crowning jewel stood tall
its spire lit up red white and blue for the occasion
looming high with a watchful eye
reflecting the world below
I pointed to the woolworth building
“That one’s my favorite,” I said
I could have talked about it for hours
as it stood there in all its terracotta glory
but my throat was suddenly tight
and I did not want to talk about anything
I nodded along to “Born in the U.S.A”
as the sky began to darken
In many ways, the country I had been born into no longer existed
the sacred right to choose
pulled back to reveal the truth of Her face
the truth of what She had let Herself become
Her once-bright eyes had grown hollow
and the lines of Her face betrayed Her rage
trembling at the gilded altar
before giving Herself away
who does not know the truth of Her soul
The macy’s boat shot color into the sky
and they wed under the fireworks
soundtracked by katy perry and lee greenwood
And Lady Liberty began to weep.
izzy806
snowghoul
jbbartram-illu
blakekathryn
2087
