once, in America

Once, in America

I saw a wonderful picture of a female soldier coming home
after a tour of duty defending America against the enemy
In Syria or some other contested country.
She embraces her daughter, a perfect moment; we did not
ask any awkward questions about why invading a country is
defending America.
The USA is a country divided; we get news from Washington
and Wall Street and what the president says
but of real America, we know, not very much and what
we think we know, is usually mythical in western movies.
The Americans are generally very polite and welcoming
people, which makes sense since so many are armed
I met many people in Texas, Alabama, Virginia California
and New York; a city I didn’t care for as it was full
of undesirable folks, given the feel of fake Levantine.
For a seaman, going ashore in America was a pleasure so much
to see and buy, as always, the people were courteous.
Some of them had the weird idea of Europe as a half
a communist system, treating people with a loss of freedom.
But let’s put this aside, people are wrongly informed due to
a willfully ignorant press, so we spoke of John Wayne
and how beautiful America is, where anyone can become
President, working hard enough.
Yes, I miss this fine country that, on her way to greatness
lost its way, but I still think America is beautiful