November 11th Poems

America

a three-verse poem, each verse with five lines consisting of 7, 11, 13, 11, and 7 syllables epigrah:

“We came to America, either ourselves or in the persons of our ancestors, to better the ideals of men, to make them see finer things than they had seen before, to get rid of the things that divide and to make sure of the things that unite.” — Woodrow Wilson
America, big and grand

for quite some time it has been in big demand

Is life always better, richer on the other side?

a haven and refuge for some this big land

America, once big, grand

How far does sympathy go?

Is America still a big and grand land?

Urgent circumstances can’t wait for a new remand –

Does America still give a helping hand?

Where can a desperate soul land?

My America is huge.

When and how was discrimination conceived?

Can I still love America knowing its secrets?

America is big enough for us all

America is big, grand.

Isabell VanMerlin

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