Monday, November 3, 2008

"America, I'm Putting My Queer Shoulder to the Wheel"





Today I need to catch up a bit on my thanks, since I missed the first day of November.

On the eve of the election I'm thankful for America in all its rowdy contentious argumentative nonconformist naive and weathered beauty.

And I'm thankful for Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman, two of my favorite American poets, who wrote about us and all our ragtag ingredients.



America
by Walt Whitman
(1819-1892)

Centre of equal daughters, equal sons,
All, all alike endear'd, grown, ungrown, young or old,
Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich,
Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,
A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother,
Chair'd in the adamant of Time.

2 comments:

Megan said...

I really like the thankful for 30 idea. I might have to catch up...

Anonymous said...

I think Walt would *clearly* have voted no on Proposition 8.

XO

Allison