Five.
Dear America, let's take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
Let's spread our beach blankets out beneath the chains,
cut from her unshackled feet.
Let's bring the Coke and Sprite and Arizona iced tea.
Let's share a potato salad and taquitos, hot dogs and tofurky.
Let's sing the song we learned in high school and mean it.
Send these and I lift and golden shores.
Bring your service dog and parakeet, your grandmother
and the neighbor you dislike.
Bring Kavanaugh, McConnell, Hannity, Ingraham.
Tell them they can wear no makeup and no suit,
and they can't say a word.
But they must eat what's given and give thanks with a nod.
They must do the dishes and clean up the trash.
They must count how many dandelions
have bloomed in the grass.
How many gulls have stopped by for a snack.
Hey, everyone, let's quiet them.
The voices that deceive and suppress and betray and lie.
Let's show them what language is for by making
them hungry to connect.
I know some of you will want them to be your friends.
That's not their job.
Their job is come to the picnic and help clean up the mess.