The Heir
I am the heir of courageous men
Who decided to fight for a country to call their
Own.
I am the heir of hopeful and broken people
Who decided to stay in a country not their
Own.
I am the heir of brothers who fought each other
Who decided their country belonged to them, and not the other to
Own.
I am the heir of heroes who fought in countless battles
Who decided our sovereignty should be protected, and entirely our
Own.
I am the heir of righteous men and women marching
Who decided that justice should be equal, and rights deserved their
Own.
I am the heir of healing mothers
Who decided that wrongs could be righted, and hearts uplifted for their
Own.
I am the heir of the air I breathe in this country
Who decided to recognize that all I am, I owe through heritage I call my
very Own.
I am the heir, an American, a person from a land of imperfections
Who has decided a voice, loud and proud, can cite exceptional triumphs.
Who will not be silenced.
Whose words will not be suppressed.
Whose religious beliefs will not be scoffed.
Who will stand for justice when injustice is rife.
Who will fight with sweat and blood for the soul of a nation,
In pursuit of the sweet, sweet bounty that freedom has brought,
As God is my witness.
For the price of liberty is too high a price to pay,
If we lose the country I am proud to call my
Own.
I Am Heir.
~d.lawrence 2/19/21
This poem is about what it means to be an American. Especially when we are so divided as a nation be it because of race, socio-economic or political affiliation. It is an attempt to remind us that we are all one, under one banner and flag. The words depict the historical struggles we have come through to make that so and celebrating the wrongs we have righted. We are united in commonality of wanting a country to call our own and to fight for the freedoms we've attained to keep that so, regardless of where we come from.