An American Love

I dreamt of a Kingdom in the Sky Teeming cities and purple mountains Stretching far and rolling wide I dreamt of a great foundation Cradled in the arms of the fallen A black and blue, a bloodied nation I dreamt of blossoming fields Oh, Earthy Mother What sweet fruits she yields I dreamt of false riches Riven by grubby hands Bodies that sleep at night in dirty ditches I dreamt of heroes that flew On the hopes of the Father Whose wishes they surely knew I dreamt of an american love Weaving in and out, in and out On the wings of the innocent dove I dreamt of sweat drenched Pride Hands holding weathered tools They never let go, not even to die I dreamt of bitter winters Rivaled intensity only in The summer’s splinters I dreamt of Rivers coursing through like blood Hot and wet and wild and strong Splitting and caressing a mighty brood I dreamt of ageless grace Time boundless, bare An angel’s face I dreamt, holy water dashed across the ground Rivulets through the cracks Silence, the thunderous sound I dreamt of blood-stained whips Biting the skin, again, again Till nothing is or was or could be but rips and dips I dreamt of white and black stones Grappling in a bitter dance But bones are bones and bones alone I dreamt of a Great Sorrow Babies crying in the slums And no food to borrow I dreamt of a giant falling to his knees “Oh,’ he cries, “help me.” Help me, please I dreamt a fissure occurred “What was that?” “An end?” Absurd I dreamt of people, noble savages Crawling and writhing Like an enemy ravages I dreamt of a sickness so quiet “Lay, lay…lay down your arms” Lay down in the endless night I dreamt a slithering snake Take, break, ache, rape These desires you will slake I dreamt of a forgetting What is Pride in Work and Work in Pride Oh, the hopeful begetting I dreamt of people tumbling down, down To where I slept and dreamt Landing hard, without a sound I dreamt a dream The Kingdom of Kings Ceased to be And I wondered perhaps, Had I dreamed even me?