That’s My America

Sweet little ladies
Arrogant young bucks
Crusty old cowboys
In their rusty pickup trucks

That’s my America
Land of the brave and home of the free
They don’t always look like you my friend
And they don’t always think like me

Lily white preppy
Cool black dude
Average working Joe
With a “can-do” attitude

That’s my America
Land of the brave and home of the free
They don’t always look like you my friend
And they don’t always think like me

Committed gays and lesbians
Dedicated straights
Folks living in the ghetto
Folks living behind gates

That’s my America
Land of the brave and home of the free
They don’t always look like you my friend
And they don’t always think like me

Egghead intellectuals
Bulbs that barely light
Some lean way to the left
And some only lean right

That’s my America
Land of the brave and home of the free
They don’t always look like you my friend
And they don’t always think like me

Some are bound for heaven
Some are bent on hell
The thing is from the outside
It’s awfully hard to tell

People that have money
Some never have enough
Those that glide unscathed through life
Folks that have it tough

That’s my America
Land of the brave and home of the free
They don’t always look like you my friend
And they don’t always think like me

Some say we need more government
Others insist on less
The one thing we agree on is
We’re really in a mess

That’s my America
Land of the brave and home of the free
They don’t always look like you my friend
And they don’t always think like me

It seems that “We the People”
Are incredibly diverse
And things could be much better
But they sure could be much worse

That’s my America
Land of the brave and home of the free
They don’t always look like you my friend
And they don’t always think like me

Snug as a Bug

Snug as a bug in my proverbial rug
Why would I ever leave
Smugly considering those bugs whose rugs
Are of a different weave

There are bugs whose rugs are richer
And some have rugs that are threadbare
Multi- or mono-chromatic
Some made in haste—some with care

Some bugs, it seems, have no taste
Or their rugs would look more like mine
And some of those bugs think they’re better than me
Because their rugs are so fine

Some bugs have crawled over others
In pursuit of the ultimate rug
And others have barely escaped from the mud
And the holes in which they once dug

In the chill of December, I sometimes remember
There are bugs that have no rugs at all
And I’m forced to review what I thought I knew
‘Cause a big bug is still pretty small

Straw Man

I’m gonna make a straw man
A striking effigy
He might look a little bit like you
But he sure as hell won’t look like me

I’m gonna give him characteristics
Traits that I despise
So that when I criticize him
I’ll be right in my own eyes

I’m gonna build a straw man
Gonna make him ten feet high
Built from half truths and innuendo
And then I’ll throw in just a little lie

We’ve made a nation full of straw men
Built on fears that dwell within
And when we argue with our straw men
We always seem to win

It’s time to tear down the straw men
And scatter them to the wind
Time to face our real enemies
And acknowledge our dark sin

So please ignore the straw men
And don’t believe every quote
Make your choice and raise your voice
And use your conscience when you vote

The Week Before Christmas

Twas the week before Christmas
And deep in my soul
My fears were all stirring
And out of control.

The family was coming
To our house this year
And I wondered if I
Would survive with good cheer.

The stockings were hung
By the chimney in haste
The lights were all strung
Not a bulb went to waste.

Out on the streets
With the force of a gale
The crowds rushed in search
Of one last Christmas sale.

Christmas shopping took on
A life all its own
It distressed me to see
How my list had now grown.

With great presence of mind
I took off for the Mall
And later returned
With no presents at all.

From every street corner
Came one more Christmas song
But deep down inside
I felt something was wrong.

As I staggered toward Christmas
With an unsteady lurch
I thought that perhaps
I’d find comfort at church.

But while children in bathrobes
Converged on the manger
I watched from my seat
In the pew like a stranger.

I went home and sought solace
In the comfort of bed
But no visions of sugar plums
Danced in my head.

I tried counting shepherds,
And angels, and sheep
But though I was weary
I still couldn’t sleep.

There were lights in the windows
And lights on the tree
There were lights all around
Except inside of me.

Like Scrooge I lay sleepless
At night in my bed
My mind full of questions
My heart full of dread.

But no spirit of Christmas
Greeted my stare
And the silence hung heavy
In the dark winter air.

And while I lay thinking
I remembered a verse
That spoke of a blessing
That cancels the curse.

Though I live in darkness
Overwhelmed by its might
The power of darkness
Is broken by Light.

Only those who know darkness
And failure, and sin
Can treasure the gift
When Light enters in.

With fresh Christmas hope
I lay back on my bed
Engulfed by the sleep
That from me had fled.

And I thought I could hear
As the sleep dimmed my sight
“Merry Christmas to all
Who will come to the Light!”

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
-Isaiah 9:2

©2011 mikewordsmith.com

AMERICA

America, America
God shed His grace on Thee
If you would heed the word you’ve heard
You could indeed be free

But you’re throwing out your morals
And you’re resting on your laurels
On endless streams of broken dreams
From sea to shining sea

Your leaders cannot lead you
And they scurry from the light
Integrity is just a word
And truth just a sound bite

For years you were a beacon
A shining city on a hill
And though you’ve stumbled badly
The world’s eyes watch you still

You were built on high ideals
On sweat and sacrifice
But somehow greed and backroom deals
Have turned your heart to ice

You’re mortgaging your future
For a life you can’t sustain
You’re cashing in your chips of hope
And putting off the pain

There’s a great storm brewing
A hard rain will surely fall
It’s time to change the things you’re doing
Or you’ll surely lose it all

America, America
God shed His grace on Thee
Time to take a stand and rebuild this land
As the home of the brave and the free

(Begun in the bicentennial year of 1976)
©2011 MikeWordSmith

Two Steps Forward

Two steps forward and one step back
I’m pressing toward the goal, but I keep stepping off the track
I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the progress that I lack
Taking two steps forward and one step back

They say that life’s a journey and you should enjoy the ride
But I see a lot of burned out cars along the long roadside
Some passengers are damaged and some have even died
But even they are better off than the ones who never tried

Two steps forward and one step back
I’m pressing toward the goal, but I keep stepping off the track
I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the progress that I lack
Taking two steps forward and one step back

I don’t think I’m even close to the man I thought I’d be
And I’m hard-pressed to even guess my own identity
Is the person I’m becoming the one I want to call “Me”
Can’t see the end from the beginning of God’s eternity

Two steps forward and one step back
I’m pressing toward the goal, but I keep stepping off the track
I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the progress that I lack
Taking two steps forward and one step back

I think I’m moving in the direction of the rising Son
But the battles that I’ve lost outnumber the battles that I’ve won
Despite the miles upon this road, I feel I’ve just begun
I’ve miles to go before I sleep—before my journey’s done

Two steps forward and one step back
I’m pressing toward the goal, but I keep stepping off the track
I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the progress that I lack
Taking two steps forward and one step back

Sometimes the choices that I make seem absolutely clear
Sometimes the choice is clouded by selfishness or fear
And the promise of the future is outweighed by now and here
And the laughter that is coming is purchased with my tears

Two steps forward and one step back
I’m pressing toward the goal, but I keep stepping off the track
I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the progress that I lack
Taking two steps forward and one step back

There’s a Book that says I’m not the person that I will become
And my actions will speak loudly though my lips may be dumb
This world can’t hold a candle to the one that’s yet to come
When I try to comprehend it, it makes my mind numb

Two steps forward and one step back
I’m pressing toward the goal, but I keep stepping off the track
I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the progress that I lack
Taking two steps forward and one step back
©2011 MikeWordSmith.com

My Own Skin

It’s good to be me—who else would I be
I’m content within my own skin
There’s much room for improvement—and much forward movement
And sometimes that skin is too thin

The only time I was really cool
Was when I didn’t try to be
And I was only interesting
When I was totally me

It’s good to be me—who else would I be
I’m content within my own skin
There’s much room for improvement—and much forward movement
And sometimes that skin is too thin

You might look at my life and think
That it doesn’t add up to much
But I bear the immutable marks
Of the Master’s implacable touch

It’s good to be me—who else would I be
I’m content within my own skin
There’s much room for improvement—and much forward movement
And sometimes that skin is too thin

There have been people that I have admired
And tried to emulate
But I soon grew tired—that’s not how I’m wired
So I finally follow my own fate

It’s good to be me—who else would I be
I’m content within my own skin
There’s much room for improvement—and much forward movement
And sometimes that skin is too thin

The Search Goes On

I’ve been hoodwinked, lied to, and sometimes deceived
I can hardly believe some of the things that I’ve believed
The truth is, the truth is not easily perceived
And so the search goes on

I’ve thrown babies out with bathwater
In my quest to find the truth
I’ve been led like a lamb to slaughter
By the passions of my youth
And so the search goes on

I’m all ‘bout objectivity in discovering what’s true
I pursue every activity to uncover something new
I’ll push and prod and squeeze the facts while searching for a clue
I’ll let a fact change the way I act—if it fits my point of view
And so the search goes on

I haven’t found the answers
Are they really that hard to find
Answers that will soothe my soul
And satisfy my mind
And so the search goes on

Easy answers like light-footed dancers
Cross the stage of my weary mind
But what the lights go out and I’m left with doubt
There are no footprints left behind
And so the search goes on

Dead Man Walking

I’m a dead man walking
Got no feeling in my feet
I’m a dead man walking
Down a dead-end street
Without your love, there’s no use talking
Without your love, I’m a dead man walking

A dead man feels no sorrow
A dead man feels no pain
Never worries ‘bout tomorrow
Can’t lose what he didn’t gain

I’m a dead man walking
Got no feeling in my feet
I’m a dead man walking
Down a dead-end street
Without your love, there’s no use talking
Without your love, I’m a dead man walking

A dead man never stumbles
A dead man, he can’t fall
Never sees when his dream crumbles
Never hears the siren call

I’m a dead man walking
Got no feeling in my feet
I’m a dead man walking
Down a dead-end street
Without your love, there’s no use talking
Without your love, I’m a dead man walking

A dead man never worries
About what others think
A dead man never hurries
Never takes things to the brink

I’m a dead man walking
Got no feeling in my feet
I’m a dead man walking
Down a dead-end street
Without your love, there’s no use talking
Without your love, I’m a dead man walking

A dead man can’t be tortured
By the promise of the dawn
A dead man is cool—he’s nobody’s fool
And he never gets played like a pawn

I’m a dead man walking
Got no feeling in my feet
I’m a dead man walking
Down a dead-end street
Without your love, there’s no use talking
Without your love, I’m a dead man walking

A dead man never makes a mistake
He’s never a debtor to grace
He can’t give and he can’t take
He simply takes up space

I’m a dead man walking
Got no feeling in my feet
I’m a dead man walking
Down a dead-end street
Without your love, there’s no use talking
Without your love, I’m a dead man walking

I don’t want to be a dead man
There’s no future I can see
But I’ll always be a dead man
Unless your love can set me free

I’m a dead man walking
Got no feeling in my feet
I’m a dead man walking
Down a dead-end street
Without your love, there’s no use talking
Without your love, I’m a dead man walking

Wonder

I have heard about the people
Who live life with no regrets,
And I figure that they’re lying,
Or they haven’t faced them yet.

And I wonder
Yes, I wonder
Just what would I do
If I had the chance?

Well, they say that Life’s a struggle
But who am I to say?
And would I want to live it
Any other way?

And I wonder
Yes, I wonder
Just what would I do
If I had the chance?

Are we prisoners of destiny
Or do we have a choice?
Are we singers in the song of Life
And who gives us our voice?

And I wonder
Yes, I wonder
Just what would I do
If I had the chance?

Every day is an adventure
Every day I dance with Fate.
Will I grasp the day with both hands
Or will I sit and wait?

And I wonder
Yes, I wonder
Just what would I do
If I had the chance?

Sometimes I’ve got to run away,
Sometimes I stand and fight.
And sometimes I just lie awake
In the middle of the night.

And I wonder
Yes, I wonder
Just what would I do
If I had the chance?

Do you ever wonder
About the way things might have been?
You know that you can’t change your past,
But can you change your dreams?

Do you wonder
Ever wonder
Just what you would do
If you had the chance?