i breathed in america
letting the nation erode my lungs
my air became as clear as liberty
and my posture echoed stature
i let america engulf my lungs
she breathed for me

as i engaged myself with the country
she began to embrace my body
moving my arms, walking my legs
i let it’s peaceful stride carry on
every step i took began with equality
and ended with bravery
a nation and her civilian
what a bond, they always say

but then something seemed off
i couldn’t understand america
or what she wanted
america turned left when i wished right
my ears began to bleed every time i listen to preachers
but they were fine when it came to politics
america
the country stuck her claws into my heart
turned my blood into oil
then i lost
control

under the wrapper that read ‘america’
there lay something daunting
balletically roaming around with
its profound malevolence
snickering as it held the chains of the people
crying, screaming

who knew what what it could do,
the land of the free and the home of the brave?

mopping our blood with star spangled rags
i then exhaled my freedom