*emergency alert and
the republic for which it stands*
security alert
threat level red
flashing red
siren red
dripping blood red
hot exploding blazing red
the threat has never been higher
since we became a republic
of the meek
the complacent
the afraid
the corrupt
and the greedy
the threat to freedom and liberty
has never been higher
since we became
a secured homeland
of the searched and caged
the examined and interrogated
the disappeared and tortured
the reviled and exploited
land of the shell-shocked many
and home of the resisting few
security threat level red
the threat to the bill of rights
has never been higher
since we became a national homeland
that worships at the church of corporate greed
prostrates itself at the alter of military indulgence
and takes communion from the chalice of stolen oil
this land is your land
this land is my land
and this secured homeland
has become a private trust
where democracy
is turned to a strangled voice
unable to utter without stutter
often forgetting its point
afraid to speak out
clearly and loudly
for liberty
for justice
for freedom
for all
emergency alert
emergency alert
security threat level red
the threat
has never been higher
devorah major
copyright © devorah major 2005