by Jorge Dante Hernandez Prosperi 2020
O say can you see
black men hanging from a tree
by the dawn’s early light
caged niños weep in the night
What so proudly we hailed
a paradox that failed
at the twilight’s last gleaming?
open soul wounds still bleeding
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
keep blacks and browns behind bars
through the perilous fight
privileged whiteness always right
O’er the ramparts we watch’d
justice for some left untouched
were so gallantly streaming?
native mothers still screaming
And the rocket’s red glare
inherited shame to spare
the bomb bursting in air
body bags without fanfare
Gave proof through the night
“I can’t breathe!” cry nonwhites
that our flag was still there
empty promises waft in the air
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
the road to equality waits to be paved
O’er the land of the free
folks still singing “let it be!”
and the home of the brave?
troopers storm to keep the slave