taking the bus ‘cross the midwest
'cause hell, we’re just that american
that long bus— ya know the one where
poor people worry over crosswords and bills
while windows
streaked with bug splatters
look out on white-washed barns,
flat amber waves
so damn american
makes you wanna cry
look how tall that corn grow
ready to be smashed into syrup
added to soda drinks
adding to childhood obesity
but look how it grow
so straight and proud
bet it’s voting for mr. trump
can’t be anything but american
looking as good as that
spacious skies abound
just like that promised american dream
reaching unlimited from sea to
shining sea— but please before
pursuit of said dream
match skin and sex to our
blessed forefathers
our forever saints
washed in lady liberty’s virginal blood
saw a homeless with a cardboard sign,
don’t he know it ain’t all hopeless?
there’s purple mountains majesty
just on the other side he only
got to get up and look for them—
but still, god bless
this really gets me going, ya know?
riding those american roads paved
with tax dollars—
roads so strong and black
the line cutting thin ‘cross america’s beautiful
back, showing it who’s boss
because we owe it everything
and it owes us even more.
