be
it a Texan star-beam
or Route 66
           broken umbrellas
                 or sarsaparilla
sugarcane
or Korbel champagne
nylon stockings
& neon signs
driving you insane
drive-throughs
& diners
motels
&
Hell's Angels
on motorcycles
Lousiana swamps
San Francisco lights
Mississippi River
jazz men
cowboys
& hobos
Fred Astaire moments
Oh my America
I lost you forever out of sight
wings clipped
drugged-up
losing my voice
shouting for freedom
losing my love
yet America, I still sing of you
& your sidewalks
& Wizard of Oz
hurricanes
all that I've read of
in books
since when do you
not want
Mad dreamers
reconsider
give me back
my dreams
don't let them wither
please
let me breathe
in your freedom
please
let me in
I'm a Believer