I walked the city of Washington
Amongst the statues standing still
As cherry blossoms danced on the breeze
Of springtime’s early chill
I shared the morning sunshine
With travelers from across the earth
The cacophony of the songbirds melody
Harmonized along with children’s mirth.
I gazed on marbled monuments
Our forebears, women and of men
I read the words chiseled in the stone
That began “fourscore and ten”.
I coursed among haunting figures
Of soldiers from the Korean war
On Viet Nam’s wall I found the name
Of Stanley, our neighbor who lived next door
World War II’s sparking fountains
Splashed in the sunlight’s stream
I paused in the shadow of a prophet
Who, upon these grounds, said, “I have a dream”
It seemed that everywhere I turned
Was a memory of suffering and strife
Of those who came before and those who still
Struggle for liberty and the happiness of life
My imagination took me to distant lands
Whose nations I’ve visited before
Where despots, dictators and soldiers
Upon their own country do war
America has faults and flaws
Which are evident for all to see
But I’d chose this land over all others
The home of the brave and the free
I hummed along to a Guthrie tune
Of this land that is yours and mine
And prayed God’s favor from sea to sea
And that upon us His face would shine
On a bench far away from the crowds
I whispered a prayer to God above
That He would bless America
This land that I so dearly love.