Mistress America

There was a time
When I was a child
Naive
And rather beguilded
By that lady in the harbor
Welcoming us to America

Freedom, no price was too high
An ideal lofty as clear blue sky
And my parents would say
This is what we came for
You just have to believe in it,
Erica

I often find myself returning there
And from the pier I can see
She's still standing where
Waters now froth and churn
Promises that the tide will turn
She's waiting to keep

Standing fair and tall as can be
Braving the waves of politics
From a thrashing hydra of bureaucracy
Offering lifelines of red tape
With little hope of her own escape
She's wading neck deep

I still want to believe it's true
Mistress America
Of the Red, White and Blue
From distressed Erica
That is my hope from me to you

While I might not see it in my lifetime
I think it's worth every nickel and dime
To see you never go under
And remain forever sublime

Together, we'll weather the storm
Wait for the waters and clouds to recede
Once again feel the sun that is warm
With a pocket knife, I carve
A message for the children
Into this pier

"Trust in the powers that be
Pervading this universe
To restore the balance
Sometimes it must get worse
In order for it to get better
Until then,
All are welcome here"