I Cannot Hear America Singing

Freedom marches and Equality Hymns banned from performance halls,
Those of women, each one singing their choice, denied by fundamentalism,
The gay American singing his, silenced by hate
The poor American singing theirs, gagged by the rich,
The black American singing hers, muffled by history,
Each aching to sing their hopes and dreams, nothing imposed on others,
All longing to sing their strong melodious songs,
shut out this day by fear,
I cannot hear America singing
she has gone silent



Goodbye equal rights
Goodbye Choice
Goodbye fiscal responsibility
Goodbye Respect
Goodbye safety

Goodbye America
I do not know you anymore