How can we atone for
our past, our nation's failures
real injustice promulgated
hate, racism, oppression
for countless generations;
a curse, a disease, this legacy
upon our people, this nation
from our very beginnings
a divide, our original sin.
How can we atone
now, in this painful moment,
to change, to transform,
to repent of our sins;
we stand divided, walls between us
separate camps, belief structures,
not seeing one path forward
a way through this valley
this gulf we have created.
How can we atone
how can we repair the breach
how can we come together
so much to do, to change,
so many wrongs to be righted;
so much of our dream of America
the words needing meaning
to achieve our destiny
as individuals, as a people.
How can we atone
inspite of so many voices
angry voices shouting
so much pain, injustice,
over so many generations;
we must start now, this instant,
in this time, in this moment;
America can be much better
than our long history.
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edited July 15, 2020
How can we atone - v3
edited July 14, 2020
We must atone
edited July 14, 2020
How can we atone - v2
July 14, 2020
How can we atone
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poem, poetry, America, Declaration of Independence, prejudice, injustice,slavery, sin, colonization, genocide, eugenics, sterilization, institutionalization, racism, sexism, misogyny, Confederacy, Black Lives Matter, unalienable rights, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, franchise, right to vote, ignorance, cruelty, oppression, Hamilton, Jefferson, Washington, Lincoln, Obama, Trump, Biden, Lewis, King Jr, compromise, complicity, corruption, hate, anger, God,
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
