Homeland
Location
Today I place my star-rimmed cap over my sunburned face
And gleam over the crowd with excitement and joy.
We are like the base of a great and mighty river after the storm,
With intermixed sediment from the highlands and lowlands
And scraps of leaves from many trees
Separate, but all joining itself as one soil.
This is the people of the land I call my own,
And for one day their spirits will be high.
So I laugh and cheer and enjoy the festivities
With my miniature flag and signature cup in hand,
With set sights and a head held high
I declare myself an American.
Yes, I declare myself patriotic,
But it is not because of the celebration I join in today.
It is not because of my signature cup
Or miniature flag
Or cap of red, white, and blue;
It is not about how loud I cheer
Or how long I stay
At the great festival of the famous fourth
That kindles hearts one day every year.
I am a patriot for this is the land I call my own
For I find pride and joy in the heritage
Of brave and faithful men and women,
Who gave it all for this – their home,
And I wish that I may follow their dream,
For my heart and mind is set
Upon the verdure and the passion
Of the simple patriot.
For every nation has its squabbles
Every nation has brooding hatreds
Every nation has its share
Of the shortsighted and the short minded
And the selfish hearts of red.
But America will be my banner
Because it is my homeland,
Because my dream is for her;
And today I sing my cry:
May the bravery and faithfulness
Of men and women past
Never be in vain;
May the fire and the heart
Of men and women present
Never die.