Justice Santamaria

You Only Write Once Scholarship Slam

Home of the Brave

July 4, 1776 marks a day so grand.

Yet look at today and we barely stand.

Take a look at our world now;

The economy blown and wasted,

Our whole nation divided.

At each other’s throat, talking and talking

But never acting.

Through their banter

Citizens continue to falter.

Consecutive presidents on opposite extremes

And politicians always in between.

How can a land filled with hopes and dreams,

Be nothing but schemes?

 

Take a look into our homes;

Fathers and mothers ending their promise,

Settling on divorce, not working through their demise.

Raising their children with friendship rather than guidance.

Children’s follies interacting with abuse, alcohol, drug, and sex-

For this is the norm it seems.

Let’s not forget our pregnant teens.

Education and morals cast aside,

Along with them goes character and pride.

Content with their own mediocrity

Yet screaming for democracy.

 

It’s not right what we stand for now,

Watching our ethics hit an all-time low.

We’ve somehow grown immature

Rather than grow in moral stature.

It’s pathetic the things we want; glory and fame.

Yet never putting in the effort behind the name.

 

Wanting change and equality for all,

Judging and criticizing those who try.

Wanting only the benefits, not caring for those that fall.

In this version of our a nation, two choices remain;

Stand with the crowd shouting things not fully understood,

Or sit back and watch the chaos, bright with fire, go ablaze.