A poem about love, in every sense of the word |
Let me be the first to wish you a happy November Our enemies are dead, our government might not be, And if we the people can agree on anything, it's that Our faith in most things American is flatlining You see, it's like this: America loves progress, but we hate compromise We love our planet, we just think Smartcars look really dumb We love talking about diversity, but we hate hearing it We love staring at beautiful women, but we hate listening to them We love the two-party system, but we hate both parties We love the idea of change, just not the part where something does need to change And we love each other, but it's a tough love, Like the best friend who swears he's good for last month's rent And we love each other, but it's a strange love, Like the homophobic uncle who was the only one that remembered your birthday America loves her children, but it's a tough love And we're still raising their tuition We love our future and hate their teachers We love our faith, but we hate preachers And we love the diamonds on our fingers, but only after we've wiped away the bloodstains We love our soldiers, but we're still trying to wipe away the bloodstains And we'll love the gulfs while we still have them, oil stains and all But that boat's sinking fast, cargo overboard, lifeboats dropping, Get in them quickly, 'cause we only bail out banks these days, Get in them quickly: women first, children last- Forgive me, but the kids don't know what they’re losing. And they can’t understand that the only good that ever comes from Taking an eye for an eye Is an increase in the price of monocles But I’ve seen Platoon about seventeen times, And I’ve crossed enough yellow tape And swallowed enough Texas tea To know that a home-cooked meal and your lover’s first kiss will always taste better- And I say we start acting in good taste, Because I know that if you gave me a bike hooked to a generator and Told me to think about the energy in my stomach When I asked Carlee Jensen to prom and just pedal, I could light up Downtown LA until Christmas And I want every home in America to have central heating Powered by a puppy in your lap, because America will not go to war for puppies, because The only place that ever got invaded for puppies was Michael Vick’s house I want every chauvinist to recant and every feminist to Extend their hands, to come together for a beautiful Humanist waltz and not care who’s leading And I want to celebrate Your History month and My History month at the same time In November and the other eleven months, I want every day to be Earth Day and I want us to treat each other like it’s Christmas And forget Bloomberg or de Blasio, I want the man in Times Square holding A sign that reads “Free Hugs” To run for mayor of New York City, I know love isn’t all I need, but it’s all I can afford right now. It’s not much, but it’s a start. |