We are a culture
of Wastrels,
Cannibals
who don’t eat
what we kill.
We treat other countries
like paper plates
and crumpled napkins;
plastic cups
and broken forks.
We throw everything we’ve used
into a big can
and call it
Refuse.
We haul refuse
to the dump.
A Dump
is taking a shit.
We shit on other nations.
We call ourselves
Superior,
proud to be American.
We can’t keep
our own backyard
Clean:
cellophane wrappers,
cigarette butts,
coffee cups;
“illegal” immigrants,
welfare recipients,
transients.
We shit
on each other.
America the “Beautiful,”
my ass.
2016 © iokirkwood.com “America the ‘Beautiful.’” All rights reserved.
