the gardens of democracy

the gardens of democracy








walk with me
through amber fields
and
squeeze the mud
between
your toes.
along the byways of a nation,
see the faithful
lined in rows.




roll me out your brightest carpet,
shine the light
to
guide my heels.
feel the empathy inside you,
what was hid
is
now revealed!




bring out to me your heathen,
rustle up the unconfirmed.
let us
stand in lincolns’ fire,
feel
sweet freedoms after burn.




let it flood to every corner,
seeping down
to
earth bound root.
splashing out
without a warning
to leave it's stain on every suit.




from the shores of crescent city
to the fields of gettysburg.
like a summons
hear it calling,
let your flesh relive
it's words.



feel the monuments to
freedom
raise your heart
right
from the dead.
i felt its power out at rushmore:
a million faces in four heads!




take me back to
where
i came from,
far away from abrahams' face
to walk
the streets of my own city,
listen for
his kind embrace.




for i went out to find an answer,
i've returned
to
plant my seed.
right back here from where i started
in
the gardens of democracy.








© sjw 2009





from the 'benevolent series' of poems