Democracy

It‘scomingthroughaholeintheair,

fromthosenightsinTiananmenSquare.

It‘scomingfromthefeel

thatthisain‘texactlyreal,

orit‘sreal,butitain‘texactlythere.

Fromthewarsagainstdisorder,

fromthesirensnightandday,

fromthefiresofthehomeless,

fromtheashesofthegay:

DemocracyiscomingtotheU.S.A.

It‘scomingthroughacrackinthewall;

onavisionaryfloodofalcohol;

fromthestaggeringaccount

oftheSermonontheMount

whichIdon‘tpretendtounderstandatall.

It‘scomingfromthesilence

onthedockofthebay,

fromthebrave,thebold,thebattered

heartofChevrolet:

It‘scomingfromthesorrowinthestreet,

theholyplaceswheretheracesmeet;

fromthehomicidalbitchin‘

thatgoesdownineverykitchen

todeterminewhowillserveandwhowilleat.

Fromthewellsofdisappointment

wherethewomenkneeltopray

forthegraceofGodinthedeserthere

andthedesertfaraway:

Sailon,sailon

OmightyShipofState!

TotheShoresofNeed

PasttheReefsofGreed

ThroughtheSquallsofHate

Sailon,sailon,sailon,sailon.

It‘scomingtoAmericafirst,

thecradleofthebestandoftheworst.

It‘sheretheygottherange

andthemachineryforchange

andit‘sheretheygotthespiritualthirst.

It‘sherethefamily‘sbroken

andit‘sherethelonelysay

thatthehearthasgottoopen

inafundamentalway:

It‘scomingfromthewomenandthemen.

Obaby,we‘llbemakingloveagain.

We‘llbegoingdownsodeep

theriver‘sgoingtoweep,

andthemountain‘sgoingtoshoutAmen!

It‘scominglikethetidalflood

beneaththelunarsway,

imperial,mysterious,

inamorousarray:

I‘msentimental,ifyouknowwhatImean

IlovethecountrybutIcan‘tstandthescene.

AndI‘mneitherleftorright

I‘mjuststayinghometonight,

gettinglostinthathopelesslittlescreen.

ButI‘mstubbornasthosegarbagebags

thatTimecannotdecay,

I‘mjunkbutI‘mstillholdingup

thislittlewildbouquet: