The American Vision of Abraham Lincoln AT THIS MOMENT
At this moment
Resting in the comfort of the statue Of the 16th president of the United States Missing An equally impressive representation Of his friend and advisor Frederick Douglass
We come
On this day
Recalling the difficult and divisive war We are compelled With a prayer in the name Of those captured and enslaved Who with heart and mind Cleared the wilderness Raised crops Brought forth families Submitted their souls Before a merciful and great God To acknowledge that The Civil War Was fought not to free the enslaved For they knew they were free But to free the nation From a terrible cancer eating at our hearts
At this moment
In which we are embarrassed By the Governor of our fifth largest state Who appoints a man to the United States Senate To which both he and his minion agree: The Letter of the Law Is more important than The Spirit of the Law
Now
When we are dismayed that the accidental Governor of the Empire State can find Just one more reason to rain pain And rejection on a family that has offered only Grace and graciousness
After two hundred years When we rejoice that another son Of the Midwest has offered himself His wife and his two precious daughters To show us a better way
We gather
In recognition and understanding That today is always and forever today Allowing us to offer this plea For light And truth And Goodness Forgiving as we are forgiven Being neither tempted nor intolerant of those who are
We come
At this moment To renew and refurbish The American vision Of Abraham Lincoln