All-American Immigrants

britain, too, has a history of welcoming refugees .
for instance, the huguenots, and, later karl marx and the
other revolutionary
dissidents seeking asylum from a despotic
europe.
it's funny how things change ..

Impeachment here, hopefully.

Gave me chills

I didn't see to many American flags today.  Think many of us are semi-ashamed of our country and its immoral hypocrisies.  We need better leaders, not wanna be Kings stealing the riches.

Like

Fine work A

Hm. Come to think of it, I didn't either, Poet.  I couldn't bring myself to celebrate.  

It's nicer at home this evening.  What are we celebrating, anyway?  

Thanks, Poet. And for the RL.

Your ending is a luggage trunk packed with Truth that is always ignored when it comes to tough talk on immigration by people who think their taxes entitle them to a say in how government is run.

Cutting social commentary, my Dear. 📝🔪❤

Isn't that the truth?  Thank you, my fellow immigrant love. 💑 And for the RL too. 📝❤

Very well written and spirited!
Good material for the 4th.

Thanks, Angelast1. Appreciated.

For the times they are a changing...not for the better of course...such powerful ink A...needs to written on subway walls...on the hearts of all humankind.
Cheers and peace my friend.
Harry

Amen on that, Harry.  Let's just hope they haven't changed too far to be reversed, somewhat, at least.

Thanks also fot the RL honor, my friend.

All-American Immigrants

Let freedom flay    
our gluttonous memory--------------our short-term memory-----it seems artificial (gluttonous) a round hole in a square peg.    
     
Replay forgotten history;-----yoke of history weights heavy-------
infant survives only-----      
by fleeing his country-------- these 2 lines----an infant is unable to flee his or her country because the infant is without breast.        
     
Religious freedom      
birthed on new soil------watering humbly -the seeds of religion grows in freedoms soil      
of humble beginnings--      
natives opening hands      
as wings to immigrants------- in their mercy, the nest of native hands shelter loveling the strange;        
     
Let it sever callous minds------ by the river of life  let us all sever      
greed, apathy      
self-serving hypocrisy      
resource-driven profit----------comma after profit      
over aesthetic beauty;      
     
Let freedom flay-------freedom does not flay another's pecuniary abilities----words like the scold        
our ignorant blindness----comma      
short-term remembrance-----comma      
and deliberate corruption-----comma      
breeding dirty politics;- --------------      
     
Let it liberate Liberty-----let us ring the liberty bell and sing to its kneel      
that she once again sing      
     
Welcome in, welcome in      
you tired, poor, huddled masses      
wretched refuse of foreign lands      
yearning to breathe free---------without punctuation all these lines are pushed        
     
Let Freedom flay our heart-----flag means to strip the skin------      
to the very core of truth-------why do you want to flay our hearts---- let freedom banish that which is within our hearts, cruelty;        
     
Then let it ring      
'From sea to shining sea      
from every mountainside      
     
Let freedom ring'      
     
Be us Native, Brown      
Black, or White        
     
We're All-American Immigrants

your poem was written by an alarm in a pinnafaw cleaning candelabra,

having said that----punctuation is lacking, punctuation gives the reader a breath, too savour the line,

the poem has the wealthy class their privileged position taking up all the poem, because of your fighting words resonate  longer;

your poem ------ where was the slow fires that burn through coals of bigotry, of the tempered heart on the sleeve,

your attitude to their despondency, the infant's breath, suckling America fruitful breast,

where is  sobbing at their treatment, give your poem passion, adjectives of passion that lay dormant within you;



 

 

Firstly, I'd like to thank you for the time you've invested on this. It's greatly appreciated. Secondly, it's a bit difficult to follow, especially in certain places; however, I'll do my best.    
    
-------    
  
Let freedom flay     
our gluttonous memory--------------our short-term memory-----it seems artificial (gluttonous) a round hole in a square peg    
 . . .  
   
I understand what you're saying; however, 'gluttonous' is a reference to the obesity with which American politics has fed itself with profit.  We all know how dangerous fat it to the body; it obscures the healthy.  You're right in that it's a square peg in a round hole - just as it should seem regarding immigration here.    
   
---------    
   
 infant survives only-----       
by fleeing his country-------- these 2 lines----an infant is unable to flee his or her country because the infant is without breast.         
. . .  
   
It's a reference to Jesus being an immigrant to point out the contradiction of those Christians who are fighting immigrants. I may consider rewording it.    
   
-------    
   
Religious freedom       
birthed on new soil------watering humbly -the seeds of religion grows in freedoms soil       
of humble beginnings--       
natives opening hands       
as wings to immigrants------- in their mercy, the nest of native hands shelter loveling the strange;       
. . .  
   
I'm uncertain if you're interpreting meaning or suggesting changes here? Being that you seemed to grasp meaning, I'll leave it as is.    
   
-------  
      
Let it sever calloused minds------ by the river of life  let us all sever       
greed, apathy       
self-serving hypocrisy       
resource-driven profit----------comma after profit       
over aesthetic beauty;     
. . .    
   
Again, unsure if you're interpreting or suggesting changes; however, being you're getting it I'll leave it. Except for callous, which needs to be calloused.    
   
The end of each line is a natural pause in poetry; therefore, requires no comma, imho.    
   
-------    
        
Let freedom flay-------freedom does not flay another's pecuniary abilities----words like the scold       
. . .    
   
It does if it's personified.  You do understand personification in poetry?    
   
-------    
   
our ignorant blindness----comma       
short-term remembrance-----comma       
and deliberate corruption-----comma       
breeding dirty politics;- --------------     
. . .  
   
No x 3 for reasons previously stated.    
   
------  
   
Let it liberate Liberty-----let us ring the liberty bell and sing to its kneel       
that she once again sing       
. . .  
   
"sing to its kneel"?  I'm having difficulty following this.    
   
-------  
   
Welcome in, welcome in       
you tired, poor, huddled masses       
wretched refuse of foreign lands       
yearning to breathe free---------without punctuation all these lines are pushed      
. . .  
   
There's three commas within the stanza, so I'm unsure what you're referring to, unless line's end.  Again, natural pauses and all that jazz.     
   
-------  
        
Let Freedom flay our heart-----flag means to strip the skin------       
to the very core of truth-------why do you want to flay our hearts---- let freedom banish that which is within our hearts, cruelty;       
. . .  
   
Freedom is personified, so you must read in that context.  I started to use 'scalp' as a Native American reference; however, thought better of it.    
-------  
      
Then let it ring       
'From sea to shining sea       
from every mountainside       
        
Let freedom ring'       
        
Be us Native, Brown       
Black, or White         
        
We're All-American Immigrants    
. . .  
   
your poem was written by an alarm in a pinnafaw cleaning candelabra,  
. . .  
   
What? Seriously, I have no idea what you're saying here. Did you mean pinafore?    
   
-------  
   
having said that----punctuation is lacking, punctuation gives the reader a breath, too savour the line,  
. . .  
   
I seriously doubt four commas at the end of lines already containing natural pauses would make a difference in the reader's breathing.    
-------  
   
the poem has the wealthy class their privileged position taking up all the poem, because of your fighting words resonate  longer;    
   
your poem ------ where was the slow fires that burn through coals of bigotry, of the tempered heart on the sleeve,  
   
your attitude to their despondency, the infant's breath, suckling America fruitful breast,  
   
where is  sobbing at their treatment, give your poem passion, adjectives of passion that lay dormant within you;    
. . .  
   
This isn't a battlecry from an angry warrior.  It's not an impassioned plea with raised fist.  It's a quiet, personal prayer for turn-around.    

Curious, is English your first language?  
   
Thank you again for your thoughtful time and critique.  It is appreciated.    
   
 

You picked up on the double-entendre of the title, ExistInSilence.  

Thank you for the RL honor.

True! Now let’s see if we drag you, kicking and screaming, to that Oval Office.


Loved it! Great piece my friend.

Dragging and kicking would be right!  Not how I'd like to spend my end days for sure!

Thanks, friend! Glad to see you around!

If there ever was a book of poetry about America, this deserves to be in it and should be designated required reading in the public education system.

Bless you, T. 💕

Thank you, Mary. And for the RL honor. xo

I find you and your reply, is absolutely wonderful.  

I throw roses at your feet I shell tell you why, because you, right or wrong  you stood your ground, ((( stoical ))))

english is not my first language, (((( it's Australian! )))))

if it is possible, read Emerson's essay V11 on politics; take notice of his punctuation's,

at the start of his essay it starts with a poem on politics;

now about your poem and my crit!

if I had read into it( jesus the hollow, the shallow) was in there, jesus is my crypt-ter-night

his staff ruefully fucked every child!!!!!!!!!!! in every compass direction;

I have to no idea what personification is. all I know it is the anthropomorphism of human nature?

the pinafore is a metaphor for the slave, would you have known that if I did not tell you, using pinafore as a metaphor

lost the reader, into understanding my poem, what I'm saying is I lost the reader in using pinafore;

saying that, I got lost in your poem, as you got lost in pinafore;

punctuation is the oxygen that gives poetry life;

your poem recruits me to a position on the hill, overlooking your charge into the valley of poetry, it

up up to you whether you come out the other side unscathed;

also, I thank you for your crit--- on my crit---

the joust was my pleasure WHY because it made me think because it made me unstable,

"punctuation is the oxygen that gives poetry life;"

Sounds like a topic for the forum that would result in much spirited debate.

Personification is attributing human traits to something inanimate. Or, in this case, representation of an abstract quality ( such as an emotion ) in human form.

The last I heard Australia's language is English? Unless your native is Māori?  

Emerson's poem is written in a classic style; there is nothing wrong with it. I happen to prefer a more modern, free style. Read any of ee cumming's works and you'll know exactly what I'm referring to.

At any rate, thank you for your invested time. It was appreciated.  

You have totally misinterpreted this, Todski. This isn't a call for open borders sans processing immigrants.  This is a prayer to stop separating families and putting human beings in dog kennels.  
 
Seeking asylum is not a crime in America. Entering the country illegally is a misdemeanor. Not a felony.  Period. It would be akin to being thrown in a dog kennel for going 45mph in a 35mph zone.  
 
It's anti-Trump and his 25 billion dollar wall ( especially when his own parents and ALL his wives were immigrants ). It's a call for return of what America used to be: a Dream.  
 
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,  
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;  
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand  
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame  
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name  
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand  
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command  
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.  
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she  
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,  
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,  
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,  
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”  
 
That is what America is, or, was before Trump.    
 
Lastly, comments are supposed to be about the poetry, not a platform to spam one's political views and drown out what is expressed in the poem ( unless the poem is filled with needless hate, which is not ).  

you can help me because I have looked at your profile, and realise you are one of a number that

the hold the golden nasal hair's of this site, I tried to put my poems on this site if you go to

profile, and his poems, there is one there,, do not hit POEMS COMMENTS or FORMS, hit poems

and it will come up, I think, you can scratch my eyes out with your crit, why! because of you only

get the best crits, go hard girly the ball is in your court,

Not American myself but add my comment. It strikes a widespread chord judging from the pics of people who have RLd this poem. I would echo Mary Walker's comment, and even offer it to the President.

Like the inclusion of lines from two classic American songs.

Thanks, Solomon. Much appreciated.

This is yet another scribe full of passion - a plea from the heart - beautiful :-))))

I will stay away from the politics I think we may well disagree on much - nevertheless its a superb write worthy of a RL add :-))))

I have made a commitment to break the cardinal rule of not discussing politics or religion in company as I was taught, David.  That's the problem; all our lives we're taught to refrain from 'unsuitable' subjects.  This leads to an inability to to learn HOW to discuss controversial subjects without resorting to name-calling and a scripture war.  

I have vowed to discuss rationally and calmly despite how upset I feel inside.  To tell people who post disparaging memes on both sides that it only contributes to resentment and hatred.  To remind everyone we were not born to hate; we learned it.  Love is our true nature.

If you don't believe that, watch small children of all races, creeds, and nationalities play. It's only the parents who are divided peripherally.