Poetry

Jerry Kiesewetter photo

By

Lynne Zotalis

Losing America

I’m trying to find America.

Losing her, she fades from sight

this country I scarcely recognize. I do love her

America,

where have you hidden?

I’m trying to find America,

am grateful to live here but I’m not proud

this picture we’ve painted, the facade

exposed in stark contrast

to my perception of this land.

Lady Liberty stands apart

from the country proper,

a way offshore,

with the torch of freedom,

beacon of welcome

sending the message

that now falls on deaf ears

Land of the free.

Home of the brave.

I’m trying to find America.

To Coin A Phrase

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

pro choice

peace sign

anti-war

make love, not war

long-hair hippie

turn on, get high

Career army Uncle explaining why

we (the US) had to annihilate the Vietcong

“life forms,” he insisted

ending dinner (with aunt and mother)

in kitchen crying

we departed posthaste

but not before the discussion

escalated to screaming and name calling

uncle shouting out the front door after us

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!

–bywords of the day

why do you think they call it dope?

just say no

the TV ad with an egg

sizzling in a frying pan,

tag line,

this is your brain on drugs.

NO NO NO NO NO

Not color, character

not gender, ability

not race, individuality

not differences, common ground

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

Lynne Zotalis

As a freelance contributor and member in the Iowa Poetry Association, Lynne’s poetry has been published in Lyrical Iowa for ten years running. Since 2008, she’s participated in the Peace and Social Justice Writers Group at the Loft in Minneapolis, MN, where two of her pieces were included in the group’s chapbook entitled, Peace Begins. Lynne is a contributor to Turning Points: Discovering Meaning and Passion in Turbulent Times, Poetic Bond VII , and was one of six winners of the RH Cunningham short story contest published in the book Life Dances. All available on Amazon.