Ode to America
  
He
left his fields, mountains, plains, or valleys
His
lakeside, riverbanks, or even seashore
And
departed from his beautiful homeland,
In
search of love, riches, home, and more
The happiness
gathered in a foreign mint,
In
many dreams in his heart abiding
Of
a rainbow of promises for a better future...
Wishfully
seeking the pot of gold, ever shining...
Tears of intense
"saudade", misting his gaze,
For
his green fields and whitewashed dwelling,
Red
roofs, ocean of sapphire and crystal blue sky,
Balmy
summers and springs ever charming.
He found dusty
garrets and dead-end alleys,
Darkened
scars fueled by great suffering;
He
weathered cold, treacherous winter storms,
Uncertain
seasons, rain and wind so devastating.
Anxiety, imposed
submission, long and rigorous,
Unknown
costumes and difficult language,
Augmented
concern of unforeseeable destiny,
Misunderstanding
and, at times, weakened courage.
After so much
toiling, without break or compassion,
With
sweat and tears, down his face, freely flowing,
The
inflicted penance of intense and hard labor,
Was,
forever, engraved in the history of his being.
He reached the
desired and illusive "pot of gold"
In
his home and enchanting backyard, a delight,
Watercolor
painted in the garden of this country,
Perfuming
the air and enrapturing his sight..
The Luzo,
untiring worker, achieves self-realization,
In
the mystic of dreams, costumes and traditions,
Whether
on land or at sea, constant tillage of life,
As
clergy, in the arts, sciences, and other
professions.
He celebrates,
effusively, his heritage and devotion,
In
the miniscule implant, where You and his soul
met,
The
beautiful feasts of his beloved, distant Portugal
Source
of courage, from his birth to his last breath.
He overcame the
harshness of your unwelcoming,
When
he started his journey, naive and true,
He
found that the shelter of life's inclemency,
Was
when his "saudade" finally conquered
You...
From dilapidated
ghetto into beautiful city,
From
"Cinderella" into a princess like no
other,
From
estranged foe into friendly partner, mate,
And
step-mother into dedicated, loving mother!
In the unique
beating of his ever loving heart
The
Luzo, far from his homeland, found his way,
As
he, with hearlfelt love and pride, wishes You:
"My
Beloved Mother, America, Happy Birthday!"
Great America,
Happy Birthday
On
your 225th Anniversary of
Liberty
and Democracy!!!
HAPPY
Page
and Poem by:
©
AnnMarie Matias
The
4th of July, 2001
Ariedam@aol.com
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