We the Poor, Dumb People

They call us poor dumb people
Wild and wonderful West Virginians
Haughtily sneering down Obamanesque noses
Pundits of television, saints of elitism
Are they too blind to see?
Our names on the Viet Nam Wall?
Our blood soaking in the soil of Nazi Germany
Our names enshrined in the tombstones of the American Revolution
Our founders eternal words of government Of, By and For We, the poor dumb people.
We the working class people
We the people who sing "God Bless America."
As they rage "God Damn America."
We, the poor dumb people
We the builders, the creators of the American Dream.
We, poor dumb people who worship the Living God.
We who proclaim all of God's Children to be equal in His eyes.
We, who swell with pride on hearing the stirring "Star Spangled Banner."
We, who revere Old Glory and Pledge Allegiance to it.
We who farm a bountiful land and feed the whole world.
We the poor dumb people they hold in contempt
We the poor dumb people, proud and free
We!
We Americans.

14 May 2008

Terel Johnson