This country

where I was born and raised,

where my seeds were sown,

was never one I used to be

ashamed of.

The red, white, and blue

were the colors of my blood,

and the spirit in my chest.

This country

was one I loved.

This country

was something men and women

died for.

Something that people

stood for.

This country

used to be better.

But now,

there are riots in the street

and we are discovering that people

do not bleed

red, white, and blue.

Just red.

And now

people do not trust one another

and lock their doors in fear of

their neighbors.

And now

Lady Liberty is on her knees, 

brought down by the ones born to

protect her.

This country

is weeping for its own demise

the predetermined death of its

freedom.

This country

was one I loved

one I bled and wept and sweat for.

This country

is still the one I love

and still the one that I will

bleed and weep and sweat for.

But this country

is broken

and old

and desperate

for rebirth.