The Way They Became Resilient

Written May 25th, 2021

They live in a country shaken,
With the dwindled promise of religious freedom. Their children grew up on infinite wisdom
Of the roads less taken.
Children grown up, eyes open to see
That their country tis of thee
Is not the sweet land of liberty
But of power, coercion, authority.

Once pilgrims to this land,
They settled into their sovereignty,
With strong reverence for their almighty.
Freed, yet afraid of His hand,
They were the Puritans, who forced their religion And those who strayed from tradition,
Became outcasts, a supposed minority
Trapped by power, coercion, and authority.

Their independence now declared,
The Founding Fathers became aware That the church’s position needed repair. Jefferson and Madison dared To challenge Patrick Henry’s tax.
They compromised and made a law with cracks That would restrict the future majority
With power, coercion and authority.

They were Catholic, Baptist, Mormon, Anyone who was not a Protestant. The church made it evident
That these groups carried bad omens. They wanted freedom to marry Who they wanted, to be treated fairly.
Their children’s teachers still enforced conformity, Power, coercion and authority.

They were native, they were black.
They were immigrants, they were women.
Equality, respect, religious freedom they lack.
They each continue to fight for their rights, driven
By their painful future, present, and past.
Society has chosen to listen to their voices at last.
And now it has become a priority
To mend the damage from power, coercion, and authority.

The children of this nation
Live in the most exciting times
As America begins to confess its crimes. They yearn for some kind of salvation.
The way they became resilient
Was by embracing what made them different. Religious diversity is no longer a deformity
But a strength against power, coercion and authority.