To My Country
This land is not great because it is beautiful
This nation it not strong because it is rich
We own the fortress of the north — and we keep it
Against the tyranny of the east
The withering of the west
The poverty of spirit in the south
This is our LAND
Our boldest claim to life. The freedom
to know this soil is mine — I do not share
with a loaded gun— I dare to refuse
any force which takes property
and makes need. The arbitrary
agents who do not know how pine trees grow,
or where individual rights come from
I owe my handlers nothing — despite
what I pay — YOU are all I deserve
All I have earned for living to my fullest,
for scrambling your ridges, for writing your worth,
for soaring your skies, for dancing
through your cities of triumph
I owe you everything
Your flag is all that stands
between me
and the hordes of history
