That’s America to Me

Apple pie and baseball.
Country roads taking us home.
Winter at Valley Forge,
Normandy before dawn.
That’s America to me.

The pursuit of a more perfect union,
though perfect stays beyond us.

Burying boys in blue and boys in gray,
Then trying to move on after the shovels were put away.

Huddled masses, New York Harbor.
Going west to grow up with the country.

Ticker tape and telegrams,
Stickball in the street.
Catering halls, ringing church bells.
Whatever happened to the local paper.

Front porches, backyards.
Graduation gowns.
Parades for some,
Empty chairs for others.
That’s America to me.

Truths self-evident,
Others less so.
A republic, if you can keep it.
That’s America to me.

School bus, yellow.
Fire truck, red.
Firecracker, Bomb Pop, Rocket Pop.
“Pop-pop, I hear the ice-cream man!”
That’s America to me.

History echoing.

The future is calling.