The American Dream

They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it,

Have to be white to achieve it, 

Have to be rich to even see it come to life.

I never want my parents to think I'm ashamed of thier American Dream.

I never want them to think all their efforts

and sweat and tears and blood that they have toiled 

day in and day out on an unfamiliar land doesn't count for anything.

I never want them to think that just because of an accent that they are any less American.

I you looked at my father and heard his voice and saw his skin,

would you think he was here legally?

If you saw the way my mom tried to fit the mold of America,

if you saw the way I've tried day in and day out on a land that I deem so familiar, 

air that I've breathed so easily, 

language I've spoken so eloquently it slips from my vocal cords to my tongue like a song sung so sweet. 

The American Dream can and should belong to anyone willing to work for it.

It should be justice for all not just for some. 

Our national anthem should be a song sung so sweet lifted by every voice to sound like one.