I, Too, Sing America (Inspired by the Reading of Langston Hughes' poem, "I, Too"

I, too, sing America.

I sing America, because in the worst economic downturn that I have ever known,

that I have ever felt,

that throttles my Present

and endangers my Future,

(What retirement? What leisure? What me-time ahead?),

I still sense a reason,

a needed remonstration,

a deserved slap at the collective fat smirk of consumer-driven complacent entitlement,

the final grade on a badly written essay that once earned an “A”.

I cry, then celebrate—

for there is hope.

I sing America, because my limitations in the Land of Opportunity are only in my mind,

in the gaze of others,

in the imprinting of my youth,

in the words of the Ancients.

(I’m old now? What me-time ahead?)

No matter that—

I sense an urgency,

a compulsion,

an unlooked-for answer to the quest for life’s purpose,

a double-thick Kleenex

held out temptingly for my consideration.

I despair, then yearn--

for there is hope.

I sing America, because anyone could open a chocolate bar and find a Golden Ticket,

regardless of age.

Despite the obstacles,

beyond the trials,

(the lessons we have failed to learn, presented once again), 

possibilities abound.

In the murky light of fading youth

the Road Less Taken beckons.

Is it eccentricity? Or

unexpected, now elected, free-to-be-me time?

I tippy-toe, then leap--

for there is hope.

I, too, sing America.