Keri's Musings

America! America!

O beautiful for spacious skies!

That were looked on with pride and joy
That seemed to have no end
That cried out with freedom
That shown with defiance
Just like us.
Now the domain of fearful gazes
Now the source of death
Now the carrier of wrath
Now the symbol of sorrow
Just like us.

For amber waves of grain!

That waved with wealth
That seemed to be in endless supply
That was so sure and beautiful
That nourished and provided
Just like us.
Now the source of speculation
Now gazed upon with worry
Now cringing as a plane flies over
Now the carrier of a threat
Just like us.

For Purple Mountains majesty!

That were so solid
That were so unshakeable
That were so firm
That were so mighty
Just like us.
Now so dreamlike
Now so shaken
Now so shifting
Now so confused
Just like us.

Above the fruited plain!

That once was the bread of the world
That once was a source of pride
That once provided so much
That once had so much
Just like us.
Now the starver
Now the source of pain
Now the giver of so little
Now the taker of so much
Just like us.

America! America! God shed his grace on thee!

That once was powerful and now is weak
That once was a source of pride and now is a source of shame
That once was secure and now is fearful
That once was firm and now is shaken
Where, O God, is thy Grace?
Where, O God, the morals thou taught us?
Where, O God, the beauty of your nation?
What, O God, have we become?

And crown thy good with brotherhood!

That once forgave and now revenges
That once led to good and now leads astray
That once shown and now glares
That once was prideful and now shameful
Where, my country, have you gone?
Where, my country, is our brotherhood?
Where, my country, is our heart?
Where, my country, is our pride?

From sea to shining sea
An American goes searching

From sea to shining sea
She looks for an answer

From sea to shining sea
She wonders what has happened

From sea to shining sea
Her eyes have been opened
And she has wept the seas for
America! America!

�
Note: Words in bold are from the song "America the Beautiful" written by Katherine Lee Bates in 1904