79900
make this thing great again
go back in time when folks were happy
safe
confidence in choices made
the very definition of what they are seeking
but can’t
won’t answer when I ask them
the time
the people
places
thangs
when they thought it was great
in the very definition of
what they are seeking themselves
maybe it was the time when
what was outlined and written and promised
was never fulfilled
you could look it up
I did
because I just wasn’t curious
I was downright being nosey
and the definition of when this thing became great
the time and place it finally became great
the promise fulfilled
the contract finally signed
sealed
delivered
legal and proper-like
all over the nation
that night when it finally became great
the night when everyone danced in the street
and not because Martha sang and told them to
never minding the style of their hair
or the clothes that they would wear
shortly thereafter
coming from all over to one place
to
get it on
not because Marvin told them to
because that night
that thing finally became great
but don’t take my word
you could look it up
the smiling faces
showed no traces
of pretending to be our friends
with tears of joy in their eyes
collectively melting
like a box of crayons purposely left on the radiator overnight
and spirits from within their final resting places
unmarked graves
rotting ropes still hanging from southern trees
or tossed into the sea
on the way to this place
on the verge of the promise of becoming great
someday
their spirits sparkling like firecrackers in the skies
they can finally be at rest
because generations later
the promise was fulfilled
earlier that night
the contract was signed
hands raised to the skies
like Tuesday night prayer services
the signatures placed
and ink not yet dried
and so
when I ask them
and they can’t
or won’t answer
here it is for them
in black
white
brown
yellow
red
white
and blue
and it you don’t believe me
the proof is still there
and
you could look it up
