when he saw the gray of
greed corroding
the monument of the immigrants dream
where it said of America--
this is the land of the free
here come a dream of America

I made love to the daughter of
your ferryboat captain America
paid my passage here in the fall
sailed me himself into New York harbor
where the mighty lighted towers
seemed to move upon the face of the waters

and the winds of Freedom blow
about the outstretched
sword of the sentinel by the sea
just like in Amerika
but then you're not so free
not so free in America

I have ridden down your underground railroads America
talked it over with the phantom of Jay St-Boro Hall
borne along on the tide of your wasted weary millions we agreed
we could read the writing on the walls

it said loud and fast rules
dog eat dog it's
strictly catch as catch can
catacombs in America

o lovely girl! Why do you laugh when I call you America?
it sure sounds like a woman's name to me
Sweet manifestation of the goddess Columbia
Hermanita, te advierto asi

que no se puede vivir sin amar
no, not in America
you cannot make it that way
no, not in America
I don't care what your horoscope say

to my brothers who remain behind in America
I say may God shed his grace on thee
and ennoble your hearts to inherit the patrimony
of the Prince of the woodlands
and the purple mountain majestics

from the sweet and gentle Hudson
to the high Colorado
you've had to have come out of this land
if you want to be free
and still live in America--

thine alabaster cities
gleam reflecting tears shed
over broken dreams, America

© 1983 by David Indian