Lexington, Massachusetts

June 20th, 1775

Dear Cousin,     

     As you well know, I am employed at a printing press, and I would like to relate to you what exactly we have been printing in lieu of our regular Lexington, Massachusetts news. For, our ink has taken form in our paper in a most ‘revolutionary’ way, and our language, you may say, has taken quite a ‘treason-like’ turn.     

I am watching from the harbor
watching for you, my
tired
poor
longing for freedom
I carry a light into this world
I cannot be unaware.

I am stepping forward,
look closely!
and behind me your chains are
broken,
trampled
gone, you are free
I hold up this flame for all to see
I cannot be still

Is my country worth it?
What have I been given?
Freedom, I can breath and say what I think
Religion, I worship how I wish
Voice, I am a person
Choice, I don’t have to, but I can

Is my country worth it?
My face is unveiled
My body is my own
I am a woman, but yet I vote
I work, but not only at home

I tear at people’s hearts all of this day
I see people’s eyes watering
I killed brave men and women
I blow a sweet good-bye to the soldiers
I gave the world another sad child
I lift eyes like smoke
I pulled people together in a few simple hours
I feel the power of our people
I smell our victory
I die with the war, but I still live on
I taste red, white, and blue
I am September 11th.

Where you are, nobody knows
“Missing in action” is how the story goes
It was a secret ambush, or maybe a failed attack
But in any case, you never came back

For family and friends, life won’t be the same,
And you can be sure, they’ll remember your name
But as for your country, you might feel betrayed
You might be thinking, “They’ll forget in a day”