Lawrence Weber- A Poem

A Reflection On The Eternal Light Peace Memorial

 

E Pluribus Unum

Out of many, We are one nation,

Under God

With liberty and justice for some.

And that is not opprobrium because

God knows We are not perfect.

Our founders rightly decided

That We should ceaselessly strive

To form a more perfect Union

Perpetually.

Even though at one time We were Two

Sections symbolically separated

By an invisible line of supposed differences

Failing to realize that separation breeds separation

Not unity.

We eventually became Three

Sections dividing North, South, and West.

We fell apart in hatred and violence and selfishness.

Like some families do,

We lost sight of our true nature, everybody’s true nature,

Which of course is love.

In our darkest days and with everything to lose

We found the strength to recreate ourselves anew.

To ensure that We would remain the last best hope of earth,

We washed away in blood the sin that divided us

By remembering who We were called to be

Four score and seven years ago,

And that our true nature: love, was only love when it was free.

So what happened to the dream of Peace Eternal in a Nation United?

Where did it go?

Perhaps it truly is well to ask what kind of nation We are

And what direction We want to move in.

Are we fully living up to who We the people are?

And if the answer is no, why?

Will you climb to the mountaintop with me?

And if so, what will We see when we look upon America from there?