The Forsaken American Dream

The Forsaken American Dream

Stars and stripes shine so brightly in the night

Red and blue lights, ready for a fight

Stolen Ancestors in chains, chains

In the land of the free

Stars and stripes, Oh what a time to be

Africa’s stolen children built it for free

 

Is this the world’s greatest nation?

Is this the world’s greatest nation?

They never said the American Dream is a figment of my imagination

Grandma said what’s freedom in chains?

Trails of tears, manifest destiny, what’s freedom built on pains

Child of mine, freedom ain’t free

Paid in chains, Paid in tears, unfree

Is this the American Dream?

 

This fall, our downfall, orange became the new black

Orange is wack, democracy is under attack

Dreams from my father turned into a nightmare

Democracy fading to black, is the flag still there?

 

Red and blue lights, badges of no honor, licenses to kill

Another life, another dream reduced to a hashtag

Another private prison to fill

Protesters in the streets, that American flag

Does it still fly over the land of the free?

 

Black lives matter all across the world

From the Motherland to the Netherlands

What is peace without justice, this is no dream world

No Justice, No peace, is one of our demands

 

Pipelines on sacred lands, lead in drinking water

The world keeps on getting hotter

Grandma said what’s freedom in chains?

Trails of tears, manifest destiny, what’s freedom built on pains?

Child of mine, freedom ain’t free

Paid in chains, Paid in tears, unfree

Is this the American Dream?

This poem is about: 
Me
My family
My community
My country
Our world

Comments

Additional Resources

Get AI Feedback on your poem

Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool.
 

 

If You Need Support

If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. Text HOME to 741741