Cleaning Up

author’s note:

I dedicate this poem to our new administration.

Let it be known that I am thankful to be born into a country that offers me such freedoms.

But a democracy is always a work-in-progress, and should never become too self-congratulatory.


AT YOUR SERVICE

I write these lines
to urge our rulers
to respect my integrity.

Let me first say:
don’t worry,
whatever you decide
I’ll still honor
my side
of the bargain:

as I have in the past,
I will stack our bricks
--happy to contribute--
and strap those costly loads
to the camel of my back.

Even when the road
makes my feet bleed
I’ll walk in your shadow
--follow your rules
even when the shoes cramp.

When out and about,
I’ll be a responsible envoy
and tell strangers:
I represent my nation.

But please
respect my integrity.

If you still refuse
you will have
discarded me

and in the process
also discarded
all my unknown friends:
my sisters and brothers.

Maybe we are many.
But even if we’re few
we will become
much, much more--

if only because
you’ve discarded us.

We will grow in our dark field--
the valley in which you throw
what you wish to ignore.

But we’re willing to wait
because we know
eventually the tide will rise--
             the tide always does--
and with the rising tide
comes the flood
from your backlogs.

Who will clean up then?

We will.  We will have learned
how to clean while down in the valley.
I’m already teaching myself--
though just a scrub, I’m shiny as a wheel,
I’ve wallowed in the muddy river
--just as the dignified elephant does--
now I beam with sunny water.

You may break our hearts--just as you break hearts
all over the globe--but you can not destroy
our heart’s desire
                             ...and so...
after you’ve trashed what you meant to maintain,
             we’ll stand up, ready to serve

and then

finally

make this nation our own.

© 2009, Michael R. Patton

taking baby steps